For the two years leading up to May 21, 1979, gay activists followed the rules. They engaged in civil debates. They sought justice at the ballot box. They peacefully mourned the assassination of Harvey Milk. But the verdict in Dan White’s murder trial changed everything.
Slate Plus listeners! Stick around after the credits for a preview of another show that we think you’ll like. Want more? Go to Season 9 of Slow Burn was written and produced by Christina Cauterucci. Slow Burn is produced by Sophie Summergrad, Kelly Jones, and Joel Meyer.Derek John is Slate’s executive producer of narrative podcasts.Merritt Jacob is our senior technical director. We had engineering help from Patrick Fort and Madeline Ducharme.
Our theme music is composed by Alexis Cuadrado. Artwork by Ivylise Simones, based on an image of Silvana Nova and a poster designed by Larry Hermsen and the Too Much Graphics Collective.Cone, Russ and Joe Pichirallo. “Both gays and cops critical of Chief Gain,” San Francisco Examiner, May 23, 1979.SF’s ‘White Night’: How the conviction of Dan White for the murders of Harvey Milk and George Moscone led to violenceSaltus, Richard and Peter H. King.