History Channel: “When Trisha Meili’s body was discovered in New York City’s Central Park early in the morning on April 20, 1989, she had been so badly beaten and repeatedly raped that she remained in a coma for nearly two weeks and retained no memory of the attack.”
“The brutal assault of the 28-year-old white investment banker, who had been out for a jog the night before, led to widespread public outcry and the quick arrest and subsequent conviction of five black and Latino teens—Antron McCray, 15, Kevin Richardson, 15, Yusef Salaam, 15, Raymond Santana, 14, and Korey Wise, 16—who came to be known as the Central Park Five.”
NPR’s Mary Louise Kelly speaks with Manhattan District Attorney Alvin Bragg about a sixth teenager charged in the infamous 1989 Central Park case having his conviction overturned.
https://www.history.com/topics/1980s/central-park-five
Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg
MARY LOUISE KELLY, HOST:
“They were originally called the Central Park Five, five Black and Latino teenagers between 14 and 16 years old convicted for the rape and assault of a white woman in New York City back in 1989. They’re now often called the Exonerated Five because even though they all spent years in prison, they were innocent and were eventually freed as new evidence came to light. Well, there was actually a sixth teenage defendant forgotten in much of the history. He, too, went to jail but struck a plea deal to a lesser charge. His name is Steven Lopez, and today Manhattan’s district attorney moved to vacate his conviction.”
Manhattan DA Alvin Bragg talks about exonerating 6th member of 1989 Central Park case
“BRAGG: “There’s no physical evidence tying him to the charge conduct. And then as with the other five as well, you know, the crux of the case were statements all given by, you know, very young men – boys, in fact – that have, you know, since been recanted and certainly shouldn’t form the basis. So that was the evidence.”
Mr. Salaam tweet to Trump: “Over 30 years ago, Donald Trump took out full page ads calling for my execution,” Mr Salaam tweeted on Tuesday night. “On the day he was arrested and arraigned, here is my ad in response.”
“Now, after several decades and an unfortunate and disastrous presidency, we all know exactly who Donald J Trump is – A man who seeks to deny justice in fairness for others while claiming only innocence for himself,” he wrote.”
Yusef Salaam serving as a member for New York City’s 9th City Council district since 2024. A member of the Democratic Party.
“ABOVE PHOTO: Director Ava DuVernay, center, with the Central Park 5: Raymond Santana, from left, Kevin Richardson, Korey Wise, Anthony McCray and Yuesf Salaam, attend the world premiere of “When They See Us,” at the Apollo Theater in New York. A former prosecutor in the Central Park Five case has resigned from at least.”
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