Rocky Jones
Burnley Allen "Rocky" Jones (born August 26, 1941) is an internationally known political activist in the areas of human rights, race and poverty. He rose to prominence first as a member of the Students Union for Peace Action (SUPA)during the 1960s and later as a successful lawyer.
Family
Born to Elmer and Willena Jones in Truro, Nova Scotia as one of 10 children. His grandfather, Jeremiah Jones, was a hero during the Battle of Vimy Ridge in World War I. Jones is a fifth-generation African Canadian and can trace his Canadian roots back to the late 1700s.
Civil Rights Movement
In March 1965, Jones joined the Students Union for Peace Action (SUPA)in a demonstration outside of the American Consulate in Toronto,Ontario. Shortly thereafter the media began to refer to him as Rocky the Revolutionary and he was often considered to be Canada's Stokely Carmichael.He was a leader with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee(SNCC)and was responsible for bringing the Black Panther Party to Canada. Jones is a founding member of The Black United Front of Nova Scotia, National Black Coalition of Canada, Dalhousie University Transition Year Program (where he taught for 10 years), Dalhousie Law School Indigenous Blacks and Mi'kmaq Program, African Canadian Liberation Movement and the Nova Scotia Project to name a few. Along with his wife at the time, they formed Kwacha House to organize the politically active youth of the day.
Prisoner Rights
A strong advocate of prisoners rights, Jones was involved in the establishment of the Black Inmates Association and the Native Brotherhood of Dorchester and Springhill Institutions.Jones developed programs for women in the Kingston Penitentiary, Halifax County Correctional Centre and in the community.He developed a wilderness experience program for ex-inmates and oversaw two production companies also staffed by ex-inmates. Jones was the Executive Director of Real Opportunities for Prisoner Employment (ROPE), a self-help organization for ex-inmates.
Politics
In 1980, Jones ran unsuccessfully for the New Democratic Party in a Nova Scotia by-election for Halifax Needham[1]. At that time, he was one of the few known Black Canadian politicians.Jones has had other roles with the party and in 2009 helped Lenore Zann with her successful campaign run for member of the legislative assembly.
Legal Career
In 1992 Jones received his law degree from Dalhousie University and spent several years working with Dalhousie UniversityLegal Aid before forming his own law firm, B.A. "Rocky" Jones & Associates.While at Dalhousie,he provided legal services and taught law students. Jones' firm concentrated on human rights cases, criminal, prisoner rights and labour law. Jones was particularly interested in human rights issues involving Black people and people of colour. He worked closely with the Aboriginal community on land claims, justice and educational issues and is a Canadian expert on environmental racism.In 1997 he successfully argued the groundbreaking case of R.v.R.D.S. before the Supreme Court of Canada. This case set a precedent for race related litigation and contextualized judging. Guelph University bestowed an Honourary Doctorate of Laws to Jones in 2004.
Awards
Meritorious Award of Excellence: The Black United Front of Nova Scotia Distinguished Service Award: The Canadian Association of Black Lawyers H.Carl Goldenberg, Q.C. Award: Dalhousie University Law School Hon. G.I. Smith Trust Award: Dalhousie University Law school Founders Award: The Transition Year Program, Dalhousie University Graduate Scholarship: Dalhousie University Community Involvement Award: The National Black Coalition of Canada Race Relations Committee Award: The Nova Scotia Barristers Society Apex Community Award: Town of Truro Honourary Doctorate of Laws: Guelph University Wall of Honour: Nova Scotia Black Cultural Centre
Category:Dalhousie University alumni
References
- ^ Halifax Needham by-election Results 1980