Gathering Witness Statements
If you think that a witness statement might help strengthen your case, you may ask the witness to write down what he or she saw, read, or heard. Remember that witnesses must have first-hand knowledge of the information they are reporting.
- For example, it would NOT strengthen your case to have a witness who had only heard about what happened to you from other people.
- Witnesses must have been present when a discriminatory action happened or must have directly heard the discriminatory comments relating to your case.
- Have your witness sign and date the statement.
- Be sure to include their address and telephone number.
- If the witness seems nervous about providing a statement because they are worried about retaliation (for example, the witness fears being fired for speaking against their employer), remind the witness that the Equal Opportunities Ordinance protects them after they speak out against discrimination.