A white man shoots and kills a prominent Black businessman in San Francisco in an unprovoked attack.  There are plenty of witnesses. But there's a problem. They're all Black. And in California in 1861, that means their testimony doesn’t count. From 1850 until 1863, California had a law that banned African Americans from testifying against white people in criminal cases. In this episode, we bring you the little-known story of the testimony laws. We meet the Black activists who fought to repeal them. And we examine these racist laws’ enduring legacy in our legal system today. 

Produced by the ACLU of Northern California.

www.aclunc.org/BlackTestimonyMatters

Black Testimony Matters

A conversation with Abdi Soltani, Executive Director of the ACLU of Northern California, about the legacy of abolitionists like Frederick Douglass and the enduring protection of the constitutional amendments they inspired.

The Constitutional Legacy of Frederick Douglass

We're the American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California. We like justice, freedom, equality, and short walks on the beach. Followed by more justice.

Black Testimony Matters

ACLU of Northern CA

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