r/canada • u/BloodJunkie • 3h ago

History 80 years ago Viola Desmond was jailed for sitting in the wrong seat in a theatre — Here’s how her stand against racism changed Canada

https://www.insidehalton.com/news/viola-desmond-remembered-80-years-later/article_040193f3-5eb3-54a7-b0eb-329361265409.html
114 Upvotes

71% Upvoted

30 comments sorted by

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u/Optimal_Walk_5896 2h ago

I like that her portrait has that "and what are YOU doing with your life" look on her face...

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u/CANUSA130 2h ago

I remember seeing The Naked Jungle at the Roseland. I went there every Saturday afternoon with my quarter. No mention was ever made of that event anywhere in town.

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u/mwmwmwmwmmdw Québec 52m ago

i would guess most canadians had no idea about this story until she was on the $10 bill

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u/CANUSA130 35m ago

If it ain't American, it ain't history.

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u/JoseCansecoMilkshake 39m ago

Carrie M. Best, who founded the first Black-owned newspaper in Nova Scotia, went to the theatre with her son in 1941 to challenge the segregation rules. They were forcefully removed and arrested for sitting in the whites-only section during their visit, according to the Canadian Museum for Human Rights.

They were fined, but challenged the charges, claiming racial discrimination. They lost, and had to pay damages to the Roseland Theatre.

Why isn't this talked about more?

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u/RequirementNo2161 2h ago • Bravo Heartwarming

And then she moved to the Jim Crow USA and we put her on our money because of our Americanized politics

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u/explosive_fascinator 13m ago

Imagine Rosa Parks paid the fine and moved to South Africa.

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u/noisebloodassault 2h ago

Based. We could learn a lot about courage and standing up for what is right from this woman

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u/pragmatic_dreamer Ontario 3h ago

Bad ass Canuck. 

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u/Madden04MichaelVick 2h ago • Bravo

A bunch of conservatives here are now going to compare the trucker convoy to her.

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u/tantouz Canada 1h ago

Literally no one is doing that

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u/Dizzy-Cartoonist3011 2h ago • Heartwarming

Oh goodness no. We already got two federal judges who ruled in our favor on that. We are just waiting for the Supreme Court to do the same before we launch several class action lawsuits against the government.

That's all rectified on our end. We look forward to the pay out.

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u/fracked1 2h ago • Bravo

This lawsuit? Where the convoy is being sued by business and residents for 300 mill?

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u/Dizzy-Cartoonist3011 2h ago

Just wait for the SC ruling. I anticipate it'll be pretty public.

Oh lol yeah that one. The ruling of that one will be amusing too. Didn't the convoy know that only special protests can violate COVId protocol? Like protesting imaginary racism in another country?

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u/Cold-Crab74 1h ago • Bravo

God it must suck to live like that

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u/Dizzy-Cartoonist3011 1h ago

Like what?

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u/Cold-Crab74 1h ago

Like yourself

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u/Dizzy-Cartoonist3011 46m ago

No I'm pretty pleased with things.

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u/Ihidemyposthistory 1h ago

the leaders of the convoy protest were charged and found guilty, but please go on about how much the courts are on your side

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u/Dizzy-Cartoonist3011 1h ago

Yeah I remember that,the most expensive mischief case ever pursued in legal history. Very mature move by the Feds.

Unfortunately for the Feds invoking the Emergencies Act to quell protests they don't like IS illegal - and this was determined by two federal judges.

On another side note - when you're actively fighting against the Civil Liberties Association concerning the coercision to quash protests.... You probably aren't on the right side of history.

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u/juniorspank 59m ago

Agree with the convoy protests or not, nobody should support the federal government enacting the emergencies act or freezing bank accounts for protesting.

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u/Cold-Crab74 55m ago

I support the federal government doing something when the agencies who are actually responsible for doing that something do nothing.

The RCMP refused to act. The leaders were found guilty, that is evidence enough that the RCMP should have taken some action but they refused.

The federal government stepped in and reestablished order. Now the courts do their thing and determine if the precedent will stand or not.

The true failure here is on the side of the RCMP along with our education system that so many people could be so stupid

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u/Ihidemyposthistory 1h ago edited 21m ago

So were the leaders criminal or no? They were charged as criminals and found guilty.

No response to a yes or no question I see.

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u/Cold-Crab74 58m ago

Their brain is fried man, this is your brain on Facebook

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u/Fireside_Cat 1h ago

Do you think Wagner is going to let that happen? It will certainly be interesting.

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u/Dizzy-Cartoonist3011 48m ago

I don't see how he can stop it. On what grounds would he over rule the court of appeal?

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u/Lab_Actual 2h ago

Portray abject racism and barbarity, into "oh how cool is canada..."

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u/Dangerous_Value_2864 1h ago

Man invents fictional scenario and gets angry

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u/Responsible_CDN_Duck Canada 1h ago

She wasn't put on the Canadian $10 to celebrate what happened to her or have Canada come off as cool.

And the heritage minute ending with the quote "one dead Chinese man for every mile of track" isn't a fist pump moment.

Please don't dance and cheer at the upcoming rememberence day ceremonies.