Raymond Santana, Kevin Richardson, Sarah Burns, Yusef Salaam and Kharey Wise
By Isseu Diouf Campbell
Twenty-three years after the beating and rape of Central Park jogger Trisha Meili, five teenagers, whose voices were lost in the brouhaha of the prosecutors and the media, were wrongfully convicted for the crime.
Raymond Santana, Kevin Richardson, Kharey Wise, Yusef Salaam and Antron McCray finally get the opportunity to give their version of the story in a film directed by Ken Burns, David McMahon and Sarah Burns.
It took, in 2002, the confession of serial rapist Matias Reyes, supported by DNA evidence, to clear the names of those who had their teenage years stolen. Trapped by their coerced confessions, they screamed their innocence but it was too late. The machine was already on the march and nothing could stop it.
Richardson, who was overwhelmed by the media frenzy surrounding the case when they were found guilty, questioned the lack of media exposure during their fight for justice, kicked off by a lawsuit filed against the city since 2003.
“Our faces were everywhere. There wasn’t a day without our faces being in the news. Today, I wonder where all these people are,” he said standing in front of the Federal Courthouse.
The Central Park Five can be seen in New York City locations, including the IFC Center and the Lincoln Plaza Cinema. The film is also on TV on Demand since December 7, 2012.
Photos of the event
