Document Type

Blog Post

Publication Date

11-11-2024

Abstract

Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, Kevin Richardson, Antron Brown, and Korey Wise–collectively known as the “Central Park Five” or the “Exonerated Five”–were between the ages of fourteen and sixteen when they were accused and tried for the rape and assault of Trisha Meili in Central Park in 1989.  While they were convicted and served considerable jail time, they maintained their innocence throughout, foregoing potential early release and parole. The Five were exonerated years later when another man, Matias Reyes, confessed and his DNA matched the profile of the true culprit.  Further, much of the police procedure and ensuing media circus surrounding their alleged crimes were found to be racially motivated (the Five being Black and Latino), and the Five won a subsequent suit attesting to this fact.

This post was originally published on the Cardozo Journal of Equal Rights and Social Justice website on November 11, 2024. The original post can be accessed via the Archived Link button above.

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