Central Park Five: Full-Page Ads Calling for Death Penalty, Refused to Apologize After Exoneration
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The five teenagers — Yusef Salaam, Kevin Richardson, Antron McCray, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise — were 14 to 16 years old at the time of their arrest. They gave confessions that were later found to have been coerced during lengthy interrogations without parents present. In 2002, Matias Reyes confessed to the attack; DNA evidence confirmed his account and proved the five had not committed the rape. The city of New York settled with them for $41 million in 2014. Trump called the settlement a disgrace and continued to maintain the five were guilty. His 1989 ads ran in the New York Times, Daily News, New York Post, and New York Newsday.
Overview
Trump paid $85,000 to place full-page ads in four New York City newspapers calling for the reinstatement of the death penalty. The ads ran while five teenagers — four Black, one Latino — were in custody for an attack they did not commit. The actual perpetrator was a serial rapist whose DNA matched the crime scene. The five were exonerated in 2002.
Trump has never apologized. He has continued to assert they may be guilty of something.
The Ads
The ads ran in May 1989, weeks after the attack. Trump's language in the ads — hate-filled criminals, roaming streets, law and order — was calibrated to the racial panic gripping New York City at the time. The five suspects were teenagers of color. Trump was one of the city's most prominent businessmen, and he chose to spend $85,000 to demand their execution.
The ads did not use the teens' names. They did not need to. Everyone knew who they were.
The Confessions and the Convictions
The five teenagers gave confessions. They were 14 to 16 years old. The interrogations lasted up to 30 hours. In some cases their parents were not present for significant portions. They recanted. They said the confessions were coerced.
The forensic evidence from the scene did not connect them to the crime. The convictions rested on the confessions. They were found guilty and served sentences ranging from six to thirteen years.
The Exoneration
In 2002, Matias Reyes was serving a life sentence for serial rape and murder when he confessed to the Central Park attack. DNA testing confirmed his account. The DNA excluded the Central Park Five entirely. Their convictions were vacated. All five had already completed their sentences.
New York City settled their civil rights lawsuit for $41 million in 2014.
The Response
Trump wrote a newspaper piece calling the settlement a disgrace. He maintained the five might still be guilty of something. He was asked directly during his 2016 presidential campaign whether he would apologize. He would not.
There is DNA. There is a confession from the actual perpetrator. Trump's position has not changed.
Timeline
Sequence of events
April 19, 1989
Attack in Central Park — five teenagers arrested
A woman is attacked and raped while jogging in Central Park. Five teenagers — Yusef Salaam (15), Kevin Richardson (14), Antron McCray (15), Raymond Santana (14), and Korey Wise (16) — are arrested. They give confessions during interrogations lasting up to 30 hours, in some cases without parents present.
May 1, 1989
Trump places full-page ads in four newspapers calling for death penalty
Trump pays approximately $85,000 for full-page ads in the New York Times, Daily News, New York Post, and New York Newsday calling for the reinstatement of the death penalty. The ads are widely understood as calling for the execution of the five teenagers.
January 1, 1990
Central Park Five convicted — sentenced to 6 to 13 years
The five are convicted of the rape and assault. Sentences range from 6 to 13 years. Korey Wise, the oldest at 16, is tried as an adult and serves the longest sentence. The convictions rest largely on the coerced confessions; forensic evidence from the scene was inconsistent with their involvement.
December 19, 2002
Matias Reyes confesses — DNA confirms exoneration
Matias Reyes, a convicted serial rapist serving life in prison, confesses to the Central Park attack. DNA testing confirms his confession and excludes the Central Park Five. A Manhattan judge vacates their convictions. At this point all five had already served their full sentences.
June 22, 2014
New York City settles for $41 million — Trump calls it a disgrace
New York City settles the Central Park Five's civil rights lawsuit for $41 million. Trump writes a New York Daily News opinion piece calling the settlement a disgrace and maintaining the five are guilty. He does not acknowledge the exoneration.
October 7, 2016
Trump refuses to apologize during presidential campaign
During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump is asked directly about the Central Park Five. He says the settlement was a disgrace and suggests the five may still be guilty of something. He refuses to apologize.
June 18, 2019
Trump still refuses to acknowledge exoneration
As late as June 2019, Trump continues to refuse to acknowledge the exoneration or apologize. He has never retracted his 1989 ads or expressed regret for calling for the execution of five teenagers who were innocent.
Sources
- ↑ Trump and the Central Park Five: The Racially Charged Rise of a Demagogue — The New York Times
- ↑ Trump and the Central Park Five — The Washington Post
- ↑ Trump still calling Central Park Five guilty despite exoneration — The Associated Press
- ↑ New York to Pay $41 Million to Settle Suit With Central Park Five — The New York Times
Verification