New Glasgow Presented with Free Pardon, Record of Conviction
The town of New Glasgow will honour and celebrate the story of Mrs. Viola Irene Davis Desmond.
Premier Darrell Dexter and Justice Minister Ross Landry today, Aug. 16, presented the town with a copy of the Royal Prerogative of Mercy free pardon and Record of Conviction, for display in the New Glasgow Town Hall.
Lt.-Gov. Mayann Francis attended an unveiling of a portrait of Mrs. Desmond, commissioned jointly with the town of New Glasgow.
Both events are part of the New Glasgow Black Gala Homecoming celebrations from Aug. 13 to 20.
"Given the free pardon granted by the Crown on advice of the province of Nova Scotia, there is a link between Viola Desmond and Government House," said Lt.-Gov. Francis. "This portrait will hang in Government House as a reminder of the important historic legacy of the pardon, but also as tribute to the indomitable spirit of Mrs. Desmond."
On April 15, the province granted an official apology and free pardon to the late Mrs. Desmond.
"Viola Desmond was prosecuted not because she committed a crime, but simply because of her race. That is wrong," said Premier Dexter. "Her actions that day should be revered, for it took a strong person to stand up and do the right thing."
Mrs. Desmond, of Halifax, was wrongfully jailed and fined in 1946 for sitting in the white peoples' section of a New Glasgow movie theatre. Mrs. Desmond passed away in 1965.
"It is an honour to share these documents with the town of New Glasgow," said Mr. Landry. "The injustice served to Mrs. Desmond is part of our history, and we must keep it intact so future generations are able to learn from it."
A free pardon is based on innocence and recognizes that a conviction was in error. It is an extraordinary remedy, considered only in rare circumstances.
This was the first time a free pardon has been posthumously granted in Canada.
New Glasgow's week-long Black Gala Homecoming celebrations is held every five years to unite family and friends of New Glasgow's black community.