“The Government acknowledges the historic injustices of people accused of witchcraft between the 16th and 18th centuries.”
Ministry of Justice - March 2024
A self-proclaimed witchtivist, Emma speaks publicly on the importance of clearing the people convicted of Witchcraft in the UK between the 16th and 18th centuries.
Emma is one of the founding members of the Justice for Witches group, seeking posthumous pardons for those accused of witchcraft in the U.K. The petition the group actioned received over 13k signatures, resulting in a response from the Ministry of Justice. Despite the government still reluctant to pardon the people unjustly killed, they have now however acknowledged that these trials were unjust. A step in the right direction but still a mountain to climb.
Growing up in Pendle, Lancashire Emma always wanted to tell, the story of the Pendle Witches. What happened in Pendle in 1612 was an injustice, the time has come for the victim’s voices to be heard.
Witch hunts are not a thing of the past, they are very much a part of the present. Emma continues to work to seek justice and progress for all who suffer or have suffered witch persecution due to intolerance and discrimination.
“What we heal in the past heals us in the present”
Emma Swinton - BBC RADIO