Why Now?
The LAST WITCH
social impact campaign
Though the Witch Trials happened over 330 years ago, the effect is still felt today, by descendants and society at large. The trials contributed to changes in court procedures, including instituting rights to legal representation, cross- examination of accusers, and the presumption that one is innocent until proven guilty.
Our social impact campaign will address issues of civic education:
If not for a middle school class in civic education, Elizabeth Johnson Jr. wouldn’t have been exonerated from her conviction as a witch, a capital crime in the 1600s.
Civic education asks questions such as: What rights do we have, as citizens? What obligations do we carry, as citizens? And what is the relationship between our government and who we are, as citizens?
In 2022, less than half of US adults could name all three branches of government.* Only six states required a full year of civic education in high school, and only five states required a dedicated civics class.**
Misguided interpretations and lack of civil process allowed the The Salem Witch Trials to happen. Civic education helps reduce the recurrence of similar events. It remains critical to sustaining democracy.
* Annenberg Public Policy Center, September 13, 2022
** American Bar Association—Task Force for American Democracy, May 06, 2024
PRESS
INTERNATIONAL MEDIA COVERAGE
Reporting on Elizabeth Johnson Jr’s exoneration and our documentary
continues:
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• Hundreds of articles written world-wide
covering all continents except Antarctica
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• Multiple podcasts covered the event
• A number of podcasts featuring the
director of the film
• Elizabeth Johnson Jr. appearing as a clue on "Jeopardy!"