(Middle Sackville) -- NDP MLA Mat Whynott was in attendance at Province House today as the late Viola Desmond received an apology from the Province of Nova Scotia and a Free Pardon from the Lieutenant Governor, the Honourable Mayann E. Francis. Given only under extraordinary circumstances, a Free Pardon is based on innocence and recognizes that a conviction was in error.

“Viola Desmond’s story is one that all Nova Scotians need to know,” says Whynott. “It is a sad moment in our history, but one that provides many valuable lessons in the battle against intolerance. I don’t know if we can ever fully undo the wrong that was done to Ms. Desmond and her family but today’s apology and Free Pardon mark an important moment for Nova Scotia.”

Viola Desmond of Halifax was an African Canadian wrongfully jailed and fined in 1946 for sitting in the white persons' section of a New Glasgow movie theatre. Ms. Desmond passed away in 1965.

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For more information;

Mark Laventure
Media Relations Officer
NS NDP Caucus
O: (902) 424-6984
C: (902) 497-5953
laventma@gov.ns.ca