Viola Desmond Won't Be Budged! (Nyasha Warner Jody)

Finalist for the 2011 Norma Fleck Award for Canadian Children's Non-FictionOn behalf of the Nova Scotia government, I sincerely apologize to Mrs. We recognize today that the act for which Viola Desmond was arrested, was an act of courage, not an offence. Viola Desmond's family and to all African Nova Scotians for the racial discrimination she was subjected to by the justice system ...

She refused to budge. -- Darrell Dexter, Premier of Nova Scotia, April 15, 2010In Nova Scotia, in 1946, an usher in a movie theatre told Viola Desmond to move from her main floor seat up to the balcony. Viola knew she was being asked to move because she was black.

After all, she was the only black person downstairs. All the other black people were up in the balcony. In no time at all, the police arrived and took Viola to jail.

The next day she was charged and fined, but