Exonerated Central Park Five members call out Trump’s injustice at DNC as they claim he’ll ‘never change’

The Central Park Five members slammed Donald Trump who had called for their execution when they had been falsely accused in 1989
PUBLISHED AUG 23, 2024
Central Park Five members rip into Donald Trump at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday, August 22 (Getty Images)
Central Park Five members rip into Donald Trump at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday, August 22 (Getty Images)

CHICAGO, ILLINOIS: Members of the exonerated Central Park Five took center stage at the Democratic National Convention on Thursday, August 22, where they delivered a blistering rebuke of former president Donald Trump, whose relentless campaign for their execution remains a dark chapter in American history.

Yusef Salaam, Korey Wise, Raymond Santana, and Kevin Richardson, who were wrongly convicted as teenagers of a brutal assault in 1989, stood side by side with civil rights icon Rev Al Sharpton, addressing a packed arena that hung on their every word.

Central Park Five claim Donald Trump’s relentless execution calls overshadowed their innocence 

The central Park Five members, who have since become symbols of racial injustice and wrongful conviction, did not mince words as they took aim at the man who once sought their deaths.

“Forty-five wanted us unalive. He wanted us dead. Today, we are exonerated because the actual perpetrator confessed, and DNA proved it," said Yusef Salaam, now a New York City Council member.

“He dismisses the scientific evidence rather than admit he was wrong," he declared to thunderous applause, referencing Trump’s actions during their case.



 

Salaam's words cut deep, reminding the nation of Trump’s unrepentant pursuit of the death penalty against the then-teenagers—a pursuit that ignored their innocence.

“He has never changed, and he never will. That man thinks that hate is the animating force in America. It is not,” Salaam continued, delivering a scathing indictment of Trump’s character. 

(Getty Images)
Central Park Five blast Donald Trump saying, ‘he hasn’t changed, he wanted us unalive’ (Getty Images)

What was the case against the Central Park Five?

In 1989, Donald Trump placed full-page ads in New York newspapers demanding the death penalty for five boys, aged 14 to 16, who were subsequently convicted of brutally assaulting Tricia Meili jogging in Central Park—a case that gained significant media attention.

Their 1990 convictions were eventually overturned and they were exonerated more than a decade later, in 2002, when convicted murderer Matias Reyes admitted to the crime, a confession corroborated by DNA evidence. Despite this, Trump has steadfastly refused to apologize for his role in the case, a fact that Salaam, Wise, and the others did not let go unnoticed.

Exonerated Central Park Five members endorse Kamala Harris

Korey Wise, another member of the Central Park Five, recalled the chilling reality of Donald Trump’s actions. “We were innocent kids,” Wise said, his voice filled with a mix of pain and defiance.

He reminded the audience that Trump had not only called for their execution but had spent thousands of dollars on a full-page ad in The New York Times demanding it—a move that cemented his role in their wrongful persecution.

WASHINGTON, DC - MARCH 08: U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris addresses the National League of Cities
Central Park Five hailed Kamal Harris as a champion for justice (Getty Images)

Wise also took a moment to highlight Democratic presidential frontrunner Vice President Kamala Harris’ commitment to justice, expressing confidence in her ability to continue that fight as president.

“Vice President Harris has also worked to make things fairer. I know she will do the same as president,” Wise asserted.

Honorees (L to R) Antron McCray, Raymond Santana, Yusef Salaam, Kevin Richardson and Korey Wise appear on stage at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California's 25th annual awards luncheon on June 7, 2019 in Los Angeles, California. The five were wrongfully convicted as teenagers of raping a jogger in New York's Central Park in 1989. They were dubbed 'The Central Park Five' at the time and have since been released from prison and completely exonerated. (Photo by Mario Tama/Getty Images)
Antron McCray, Raymond Santana, Yusef Salaam, Kevin Richardson and Korey Wise appear on stage at the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Southern California's 25th annual awards luncheon on June 7, 2019 in Los Angeles, California (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

Their appearance at the DNC was a stark reminder of the racial tensions that continue to plague the nation, especially as Trump seeks to appeal to Black voters ahead of the upcoming election. Harris, who won 87 percent of Black voters in 2020, will likely need to galvanize that same support to defeat Trump in November.

Injustice suffered by Central Park Five sparks online fury

The emotional impact of the Central Park Five's address at the Democratic National Convention reverberated through social media, with users expressing deep sorrow, outrage, and a renewed call for justice.

"This was a powerful moment," tweeted a user.

"Trump's ad, 1989," added another.

"This was incredibly powerful. Those poor innocent men. What a monster that Orange shitstain has been his entire life," said a user.

"This was gutting. And that monster has never apologized. What trash," read a tweet.

"This Story Always Brings Me To Tears. Korey Had It Worse. The PO Were Taking Yusef, &Korey Volunteered To Go As Support, He Served The Most," penned the user.

"This weighs heavy on my heart. What happen to these boys, now grown men, is a stain on the American justice system. And it’s still happening across the country to this day! What they were made to endure was pure evil. May this serve as a reminder to us all: We’reNotGoingBack!" stated a user.

"Amazing they could be bitter and hateful but instead they still love this country," chimed another.



 



 



 



 



 



 



 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.

MORE STORIES

Trump posted a scathing montage, accusing Democrats of shutting down the government to please their 'radical left' base
9 hours ago
John Kennedy is calling out Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer over the tough spot he’s in amid government shutdown
9 hours ago
Top officials in the Trump administration discussed invoking the Insurrection Act, which allows the president to deploy military forces on US soil
15 hours ago
Gavin Newsom rejected the bipartisan bill, calling it too costly and warning it could disrupt how California determines firefighter pay
1 day ago
The vote comes as California’s education agencies face a US Department of Justice lawsuit over alleged Title IX violations in girls’ sports
1 day ago
Donald Trump took aim at Sen Richard Blumenthal after his tense face-off with Attorney General Pam Bondi during a congressional hearing
1 day ago
Dick Durbin pressed Pam Bondi to justify sending troops to Illinois, accusing the Justice Department of hiding key information from the public
1 day ago
The comedian dubbed Chuck Schumer 'Hack-ie Mason', and then went on a rant against Democratic leadership in general
2 days ago
Trump promised America’s men and women in uniform that their pay is safe despite the government shutdown
3 days ago
The stipend is part of measures taken by the Trump administration to reduce illegal immigrants in US
5 days ago