Student project spurs Nova Scotia to repay fine levied against Viola Desmond

An Ontario teenager isthe driving force behind a symbolic repayment to civil rights activist Viola Desmond, a BlackNova Scotian who challenged the province's racial segregation.

Grade 11 student Varishini Deochand wrote to Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeilasking that the province repay the court costs handed to Desmond.

More than seven decadesago, Desmond was arrested and draggedout of a New Glasgow, N.S., theatre for refusing to leaveawhites-only section.

Desmond was charged on Nov. 9, 1946with attempting to defraud the provincial government based on her alleged refusal to pay a one-cent amusement tax. The court costs of $26amountto an estimated $368.29 in today's dollars.

"I strongly hold that one should not pay a fine for a crime they did not commit," Deochand said during a virtual ceremony held Wednesday.

"While we may not be able to travel back in time to right our wrongs, we can show that we care in the most sincerest of ways."

Deochand said she chose to study Desmond, aHalifax civil rights activist andbeautician,as part of a project for one of her English classes.Desmond's act of defiance came nine years before Rosa Parks's famous act of civil disobedience on a racially segregated bus in Montgomery, Ala.

Student scholarship

When the province offered the repayment to Desmond's only surviving family member, her sister Wanda Robson, she said she would take any money offered to her and donate it to a one-time scholarship at her own alma mater, Cape Breton University.

So the province donated the money to the school, but increased the amount to$1,000.

"Viola Desmond's story is one of aspiration, activism and determination by an individual who challenged segregation," said McNeil, who is in his last week as premier.

"She was a trailblazer whose story continues to affect the lives of many people. We must continue to acknowledge and recognize the incredible people of African descent, like Viola, who have made a significant contribution to our society."

As part of its refund to Desmond's family, the province alsoissued a commemorativecheque that will be displayed at the Nova Scotia Legislature.

It will sit alongside a pardon certificate issued to Desmond in 2010that is meant to correct the injustice done to her.

Robson said she would like to meet the student who had the courage to writeMcNeil.

"She sounds like the future," Robson said. "The bright future that I know she's going to have ... and there'll be thousands and millions behind her raising the torch of justice and freedom."

Robson, who isin her 90s, has worked for more than a decade to raise public awareness of the circumstances surrounding her sister's arrest.

She said her home isfilled with memories and accolades acknowledgingher sister.

In 2018, Desmond became the first Canadian woman to appear onCanadiancurrency.

For more stories about the experiences of Black Canadians from anti-Black racism to success stories within the Black community check out Being Black in Canada, a CBC project Black Canadians can be proud of.You can read more stories here.

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