Free at last.
One of former Governor Mike Parson’s final acts before leaving office was issuing 16 pardons, one of which was for Celia Newsom. Newsom was a Callaway County slave who was executed after defending herself against her owner. Her descendant, Pamela Westbrooks-Hodge, celebrates the occasion that took place nearly 170 years later.
“We’re so grateful for all of those wonderful people who literally stood in the gap for Celia, who placed the phone calls, who said this is really important,” Westbrooks-Hodge told Missourinet. “This is of historic importance. This is our opportunity to right a wrong that should never have happened. This young mother who lost her life for defending herself against sexual abuse.”
Celia Newsom was executed by hanging on December 21st, 1855.
“Since this happened, there’s been so many predecessors in justice who’ve been champions for Celia standing in the gap, pushing for her story to never be forgotten,” she said.
Despite not being allowed to testify in her defense, her lawyers argued that Robert Newsom’s death was a justifiable homicide.
“Because of the law at the time, Celia was considered property and not a citizen,” explaind Westbrooks-Hodge. “So those rights of self-defense, bodily autonomy, self-determination, they were not afforded to enslaved property. So, the jury was literally not allowed to consider Celia’s motive.”
Celia was purchased by Robert Newsom for the purposes of being a concubine after his wife’s death.
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