Viola Desmond: Historical Persona Essay Sputter, sputter, screech. That’s the sound my car made when it broke down in a random city, leaving me stranded in 1946. A simple and normal event that changed my life and the lives of millions forever. Within the next couple of days, I ended up in a movie theatre, in jail, and in court, but despite the hectic turn of events, I was able to stand my ground and not give in, challenging segregation directly. I had also managed to start a whole civil rights movement, just because I was treated unfairly did not give up. I was thrown in jail, simply because of the colour of my skin, and I would not let that slide. I am Viola Desmond; daughter of Gwendolin and James Desmond, a sister to 10 siblings, and a …show more content…
It took a moment to realize that the cashier was referring to my skin colour, and my heart sank a little. I had been denied because of my skin colour in the past, but a movie theatre? There weren’t even laws enforcing this! I offered to pay the difference of one cent but it was not accepted. My blood boiled and my frustration was through the roof with these unofficial segregation policies. I took a deep breath and decided I was going to sit where I wanted anyway. I marched into the theatre and took my seat on the main/lower floor, just as the movie began. Just moments later, the manager, Henry MacNeil confronted me. He told me to leave and we argued, yet I still refused. Unfortunately, the police were called, and minutes later, they removed me by force. I was physically dragged out of the theatre, injuring my hip and knee in the process. I was left in a jail cell overnight, and all I can remember is being shocked and frightened. I managed to maintain composure and I sat up all night. That morning, I was brought to court and charged with tax evasion for not paying the full amount for the ticket. It was the one cent the cashier refused to take! I tried to reason, however, it was no use and the judge fined me