(Amherst, NS) -- NDP MLA Brian Skabar 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.

“I don’t know if what happened to Viola Desmond can ever fully be forgiven but I hope this apology brings some comfort to her family,” said Skabar. “Ms. Desmond stood up for what she believed in and fought against injustice. Through her actions she has become a powerful role model for today’s youth.”

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