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Central Park Five: Full-Page Ads Calling for Death Penalty, Refused to Apologize After Exoneration

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.

Record summary

Grade

Grade 2 of 5: Major Abuse of Power

Executive actions that exceed constitutional authority, circumvent statutory constraints, or weaponize government institutions for political ends. Scale and definitions

Status
Concluded
Incident date
Record updated
Location
New York, NY
Category
Civil Rights
Legal posture
Reported
War-crime classification
Enabling conduct
Verification
Independently verified
ICC relevance
No
Sources
4 cited
Stable ID
trump-pre-presidency-central-park-five
Victims
Yusef Salaam, Kevin Richardson, Antron McCray, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise — five teenagers who were wrongfully convicted and imprisoned for crimes they did not commit; they were subjected to public calls for their execution by a prominent real estate developer who maintained their guilt even after DNA exoneration
Alleged responsible parties
  • Donald Trump, Real estate developer; spent approximately $85,000 on full-page newspaper ads calling for the reinstatement of the death penalty in the context of the case; refused to apologize after exoneration; continued asserting guilt against DNA evidence and confession from the actual perpetrator— Trump Organization / private

Key points

  • In May 1989, Trump placed full-page advertisements in four New York City newspapers — the New York Times, the Daily News, the New York Post, and New York Newsday — at a reported cost of $85,000; the ads called for the reinstatement of New York State's death penalty and were widely understood as calling for the execution of the Central Park Five
  • The five teenagers confessed during lengthy police interrogations in some cases lasting more than 24 hours, without their parents present for significant portions; they recanted the confessions, saying they were coerced; the convictions rested largely on the confessions because forensic evidence from the scene did not connect them to the crime
  • In 2002, Matias Reyes, a convicted serial rapist serving a life sentence, confessed to the attack; DNA testing confirmed his confession and showed his DNA matched evidence from the scene; the DNA excluded the Central Park Five entirely; a Manhattan judge vacated their convictions
  • The city of New York settled a lawsuit by the five for $41 million in 2014; Trump wrote an opinion piece calling the settlement a disgrace and asserting the city was 'settling with Professed Criminals' — he continued to maintain they were guilty after the DNA exoneration and Reyes confession
  • During the 2016 presidential campaign, Trump was asked directly about the Central Park Five case; he said the settlement was a disgrace and that the five might still be guilty of something even if not the rape — he did not acknowledge the exoneration or apologize; he has continued to refuse to do so as of the most recent public statements on the matter
  • The case occurred in the context of a broader moral panic in New York City about crime; the five were Black and Latino teenagers who were publicly characterized as part of a lawless youth culture; Trump's ads referred to hate-filled criminals roaming the streets and called for 'law and order' — language that critics identified as racially coded given the demographics of the case

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.

Update log

  1. Based on 2019 reporting on Trump's continued refusal to apologize after exoneration.

Sequence of events

  1. 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.

  2. 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.

  3. 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.

  4. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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.

  7. 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

  1. Trump and the Central Park Five: The Racially Charged Rise of a Demagogue — The New York Times
  2. Trump and the Central Park Five — The Washington Post
  3. Trump still calling Central Park Five guilty despite exoneration — The Associated Press
  4. New York to Pay $41 Million to Settle Suit With Central Park Five — The New York Times

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