In Missouri in 1855, it was a crime to “take any woman unlawfully against her will and by force, menace or duress, compel her to…be defiled,” allowing women to argue self-defense in resisting such assaults.
However, the Missouri High Court ruled that enslaved women did not have such a right. So Celia, a Callaway County, Missouri, enslaved woman, was executed for the murder of her sexually abusive owner, Robert Newsom, on December 21, 1855.
Over a century later, both white and black Celia/Robert Newsom Descendants and Supporters joined forces and created the Justice for Celia Coalition and the Celia Newsom Legacy Foundation. After months of hard-fought advocacy, Celia Newsom was pardoned on December 20, 2024, nearly 169 years after her unjust execution. But Celia’s justice journey is far from complete!
