Viola Desmond was a young woman living in Halifax. She worked as a beautician and teacher. On November 8, 1946, she was driving to the city of Sydney, Nova Scotia. Her car broke down in the town of New Glasgow, and she was not able to get it fixed right away. Ms. Desmond had to spend the night in New Glasgow. She found a motel room, and decided to go to the movies that night.

Movie theatres in Nova Scotia were segregated. All blacks had to sit in the balcony. Only white people could sit in the "house seats" (the ones on the ground floor). Ms. Desmond sat in one of the house seats. The theatre manager ordered her to sit in the balcony. Ms. Desmond refused. The police were called to the theatre, and she was arrested. She spent 12 hours in jail. She was found guilty of tax evasion (because she sat in a seat that was more expensive, and she did not pay the tax on the more expensive ticket), and punished with a $20 fine and 30 days in jail.

A new group in Nova Scotia, The new Nova Scotia Association for the advancement of Coloured People (NSAACP) helped her. It was started in 1945 by William Oliver and Pearleen Oliver. The NSAACP raised money to help Ms. Desmond fight her conviction. She eventually won her case. This case led the government of Nova Scotia to end segregation laws in 1954.

- What type of oppression is described in this story and how does it relate to inequality?

- How did Viola Desmond express resistance to the existing laws?

- What forms/methods of social action are taken to address the issue?