During the Democratic convention, the exonerated members of the Central Park Five warned about the potential dangers of re-electing President Trump. The Central Park Five are a group of black and Hispanic men who were wrongly convicted of a brutal attack on a white female jogger in Central Park in 1989. Their convictions were later vacated after they spent between six and 13 years in prison, following the confession of a serial rapist and murderer.
Yusef Salaam, one of the five, noted that Trump had called for their execution back in 1989, taking out full-page ads in multiple New York daily newspapers advocating for the return of the death penalty in their case. He pointed out that despite their eventual exoneration, Trump is yet to apologize for his actions.
The men drew parallels between their experience and the current debate over racial justice and policing in America. Kevin Richardson, another member of the five, stressed that their story is a cautionary tale of being guilty until proven innocent when being a person of color in America. He charged that Trump’s response to the Black Lives Matter protests indicated a lack of understanding over issues of racial justice.
They urged voters to consider their experiences and Trump’s response when deciding how to vote in the upcoming election, arguing that their situation represents the systemic racial injustices that exist in America today.
Antron McCray, another one of the five, concluded the discussion by saying that he is living proof of systemic racism – a proof the country should not ignore any longer. He urged voters to turn out in high numbers for the election, noting that their votes could make a difference in fighting these systemic injustices.