Execution of Justice

A powerful exploration of justice, community, and truth embodying the Wirtz Center’s commitment to performance as a lens for understanding the world.

By Emily Mann
Directed by Georgette Verdin

This docudrama on the assassinations of San Francisco Mayor George Moscone and Supervisor Harvey Milk, the first openly gay elected public official in the country, uses court transcripts and public records to dramatize the trial of this controversial case. Focus is on accused killer Dan White, a disgruntled former city supervisor, and on the jury, which chose to convict him not of cold-blooded murder but of manslaughter, in what became known as the notorious “Twinkie defense.” 

Approximate run time: 2 hours and 30 minutes with one intermission
Suggested ages: 14+