Witch Hunt

In this episode of Witch Hunt Victim Stories, host Mary Bingham delves into the life of Susannah Martin, born in Olney, England in 1621. The episode explores her early life, migration to Massachusetts, and subsequent hardships. Susannah faced accusations of infanticide and witchcraft amid legal battles over her father's estate. Despite numerous appeals, she and her family often lost in court, culminating in her conviction and execution for witchcraft in 1692. Susannah's resilience is remembered, and she was posthumously exonerated in 2001. Now, a highway in Massachusetts bears her name, honoring her memory. Please see also the following: Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience Mary Beth Norton, In the Devil's Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692 Bernard Rosenthal, editor, Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt Marilynne K. Roach, The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-By-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege Stacy Schiff, The Witches: Suspicion, Betrayal, and Hysteria in 1692 Salem

In this episode, guest host Mary Louise Bingham and special expert Jordan Alexander, chair of the UK’s National Working Group on Spiritual and Ritual Abuse (SARA), join Witch Hunt hosts Josh Hutchinson and Sarah Jack. Jordan shares his journey from the police force and safeguarding roles to advocacy, exploring the complexities of spiritual and ritual abuse, providing concrete examples, discussing the UK’s systemic response, and highlighting the need for global awareness and legislative changes. We also address the rise of SARA cases, global challenges, media portrayals perpetuating harmful stereotypes, and efforts to combat abuse. Additionally, we highlight an upcoming survivor stories conference. We explore the rise of SARA cases, global challenges, and the need for legislative changes. The conversation also touches on media portrayals of witchcraft, an upcoming survivor stories conference, and efforts by our nonprofit End Witch Hunts to gather data on SARA in the US. While we often focus on historical witch trials, today we examine how similar fears lead to harm to people today through violent exorcisms, accusations of witchcraft, human sacrifice, and other forms of SARA. Prism Training, Safeguarding Solutions for Professionals Spiritual and Ritual Abuse Conference: Survivor Stories, Manchester UK, November 27, 2024 A Little Town Loses a Star Learn more about SARA Donate: End Witch Hunts UK Advocacy Trip Fund End Witch Hunts Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Project Massachusetts Witch-Hunt Justice Project Witch Hunt Website Salem Witch-Hunt Education Project

In this edition in our Witch Hunt Victim Stories series, Antonio Infante tells the story of Elizabeth Howe, a victim of the Salem Witch Trials.  On June 30, 1692, Elizabeth Jackson Howe was convicted of bewitching Mary Walcott and Mercy Lewis. She was executed on July 19. Learn about her life and trial in this special episode. Please see also the following: Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience Mary Beth Norton, In the Devil's Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692 Bernard Rosenthal, editor, Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt Marilynne K. Roach, The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-By-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege Stacy Schiff, The Witches: Suspicion, Betrayal, and Hysteria in 1692 Salem

In this first episode in our new Witch Hunt Victim Stories series, Josh Hutchinson tells the story of Sarah Good, a victim of the Salem Witch Trials.  In fact, Sarah Good and her daughters were all victims of the witch hunt. Unfortunately, Sarah was executed, her infant daughter died in jail, and daughter Dorothy was imprisoned in chains for nearly 9 months. Join us as we explore Sarah’s life and trial. For more, listen to our episode, The Salem Witch-Hunt Saga: Beginnings, which was released on June 25, 2024. Sources: Emerson W. Baker, A Storm of Witchcraft: The Salem Trials and the American Experience Mary Beth Norton, In the Devil's Snare: The Salem Witchcraft Crisis of 1692 Bernard Rosenthal, editor, Records of the Salem Witch-Hunt Marilynne K. Roach, The Salem Witch Trials: A Day-By-Day Chronicle of a Community Under Siege Stacy Schiff, The Witches: Suspicion, Betrayal, and Hysteria in 1692 Salem Salem The Podcast, 73. Witch Trials: Sarah Good Salem The Podcast, 74. Witch Trials: Sarah Good (part 2) Witch Hunt, The Ultimate Introduction to the Salem Witch TrialsRachel Christ-Doane, The Untold Story of Dorothy Good (video)

Mary Bingham of End Witch Hunts presents the case of Kimberly Felder, a mother who believed her daughter was possessed by demons. The exorcism Kimberly performed on her daughter at popular Centerville Beach shocked and horrified witnesses. Fortunately, the 11-year-old girl's life was saved by one of these witnesses. Violent exorcisms are harmful practices and examples of spiritual and ritual abuse. The performer of this type of exorcism generally believes they are attacking demons or evil spirits, not the person said to be their host. This dehumanization of the victim often leads to the commission of atrocities as their humanity is utterly disregarded in a stubborn pursuit of what is believed to be evil itself. Learn more at endwitchhunts.org

In this episode, we travel to Namibia to meet Berrie Holtzhausen, founder of Alzheimer's Dementia Namibia and advocate against witchcraft accusations. He tells the story of how he met Ndjinaa, a woman chained for 20 years after she was accused of bewitching people and livestock to death. Learn how Berrie worked for Ndjinaa's freedom after discovering she was living with dementia, a condition which Berrie and others have found is commonly mistaken for witchcraft.

Welcome to Witch Hunt, where we uncover the ongoing crisis of modern witch hunts and harmful practices.  In this episode, we talk with Berrie Holtzhausen, founder of Alzheimer’s Dementia Namibia. Berrie’s incredible journey to become a dementia advocate highlights his dedication to educating communities where those with dementia are often mistaken for harming their community with witchcraft. Hear Berrie’s powerful stories of resilience, his fight against stigma, and his efforts to create dementia-friendly communities. Despite his own Alzheimer's diagnosis, Berrie continues to rescue those falsely accused of witchcraft due to dementia symptoms. Alzheimer's Dementia Namibia Facebook African Witchfinder Documentary 2018 ‘They wanted her to confess to witchcraft’: ending the chilling effects of dementia stigma in Nigeria Donate: End Witch Hunts UK AdvocacyTrip Fund End Witch Hunts Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Project Massachusetts Witch-Hunt Justice Project Witch Hunt Website Salem Witch-Hunt Education Project

In this brief episode, learn about the public interest litigation used by Sashiprava Bindhani to compel the Indian state of Odisha to take action against witch-branding, the practice of labeling people as witches, dayans, dahanis, or any other word used to mean a person using harmful magic. Around the world, this practice results in ostracism, trauma, physical and emotional harm, and even murder.

In this short episode, you will learn about the experiences which led Sashiprava Bindhani of Odisha state in India to advocate against witch-hunting and witch-branding. Dahani is an Oriya word with similar meaning as witch. In Sashiprava's words, "no woman is a dahani."

Sashiprava Bindhani, a human rights advocate and legal expert from Odisha, India, has dedicated her life to raising awareness of witch-hunting and advocating for the protection of vulnerable individuals. This impactful oral history conversation explores her life of advocating for individuals accused of witchcraft, examining the social ostracism, physical assaults, and the role of policy and legal intervention in protecting the vulnerable and stopping these practices. She shares her professional journey, personal experiences, and significant contributions to human rights. She discusses her work in law, public interest litigation, and efforts in implementing laws against witch branding.  Sashiprava Bindhani Blog on Bhamati Ra Swara Justice for Lakhma End Witch Hunts Connecticut Witch Trial Exoneration Project Massachusetts Witch-Hunt Justice Project Witch Hunt Website Salem Witch-Hunt Education Project