Lex Anteinternet: Friday, November 8, 1946. Desmond's arrest launches a civil rights movement.

Sunday, November 8, 2026

Friday, November 8, 1946. Desmond's arrest launches a civil rights movement.

Black Canadian businesswoman Viola Desmond refused to leave the balcony section of the Roseland Theatre in New Glasgow, Nova Scotia, thereby starting the civil rights movement in Canada.

Desmond, who owned a beauty school was arrested for the event. The subsequent legal proceedings took a heavy personal toll on her, and she ultimately ended up divorced and closed the school. She died in New York in 1965 at age 50.

The Japanese government expelled 162,915 employees who had served the Imperial Japanese government during World War Two. The US participated in identifying those who were fired.

Last edition:

Tuesday, November 5, 1946. 1946 Midterm Election.

Labels: 1940s, 1946, 1946 Election, Democratic Party, Frank A. Barrett, Joseph C. O'Mahoney, Lester Hunt, Republican Party, Wyoming

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Thomas More, counsellor of law and statesman of integrity, merry martyr and most human of saints: Pray that, for the glory of God and in the pursuit of His justice, I may be trustworthy with confidences, keen in study, accurate in analysis, correct in conclusion, able in argument, loyal to clients, honest with all, courteous to adversaries, ever attentive to conscience. Sit with me at my desk and listen with me to my clients’ tales. Read with me in my library and stand always beside me so that today I shall not, to win a point, lose my soul. Pray that my family may find in me what yours found in you: friendship and courage, cheerfulness and charity, diligence in duties, counsel in adversity, patience in pain—their good servant, and God’s first. Amen

"Be at peace. Do not look forward in fear to the changes of life; rather look to them with full hope as they arise. God, whose very own you are, will deliver you from out of them. He has kept you hitherto, and He will lead you safely through all things; and when you cannot stand it, God will bury you in his arms. Do not fear what may happen tomorrow; the same everlasting Father who cares for you today will take care of you then and every day. He will either shield you from suffering, or give you unfailing strength to bear it. Be at peace, and put aside all anxious thoughts and imagination." St. Francis de Sales

Lex Anteinternet?

This blog has been around since 2009. In the very first post, we asked the question: "What the heck is this blog about?"

Our answer to the question was: "The intent of this blog is to try to explore and learn a few things about the practice of law prior to the current era. That is, prior to the internet, prior to easy roads, and the like. How did it work, how regional was it, how did lawyers perceive their roles, and how were they perceived?"

We also noted: "Part of the reason for this, quite frankly, has something to do with minor research for a very slow moving book."

All of this is still true, but the focus of the blog has changed somewhat. It now focuses on the era from 1890 to 1920 in general, rather than on the law and lawyers specifically, although that may be far from obvious. It's also become the location where we comment on anything we feel moved to comment on.

We hope you'll feel moved to comment as well. While we moderate every comment, so as to weed out Spam, we greatly appreciate the comments where they are offered, and hope to see more.

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