Posted on May 27, 2021
Central Park 'Exonerated 5' Member Reflects On Freedom And Forgiveness
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https://www.npr.org/2021/05/26/ [login to see] /central-park-exonerated-5-member-reflects-on-freedom-and-forgiveness
In 1989, 15-year-old Yusef Salaam was one of five Black and Latino teenagers who were wrongly accused of assault and rape in the so-called Central Park jogger case.
At the time of his 1990 trial, Salaam, then out on bail, felt confident that the truth would come out and that he and the other teens would be proven innocent.
"I was on the phone with a friend of mine and I remember someone running up to me, [saying] 'They got the verdict! They got the verdict!' " Salaam says. "And I told the person, 'Hey, they got the verdict. I'll see you in a little while. I'll be right back. I'll be home.' And I didn't come back until seven years later."
Each of the boys, then known as the "Central Park Five," was convicted. It wasn't until 2002 — well after Salaam had completed his nearly seven-year prison sentence — that DNA evidence confirmed that they were all innocent. A serial rapist and murderer had acted alone in committing the crime.
In 1989, 15-year-old Yusef Salaam was one of five Black and Latino teenagers who were wrongly accused of assault and rape in the so-called Central Park jogger case.
At the time of his 1990 trial, Salaam, then out on bail, felt confident that the truth would come out and that he and the other teens would be proven innocent.
"I was on the phone with a friend of mine and I remember someone running up to me, [saying] 'They got the verdict! They got the verdict!' " Salaam says. "And I told the person, 'Hey, they got the verdict. I'll see you in a little while. I'll be right back. I'll be home.' And I didn't come back until seven years later."
Each of the boys, then known as the "Central Park Five," was convicted. It wasn't until 2002 — well after Salaam had completed his nearly seven-year prison sentence — that DNA evidence confirmed that they were all innocent. A serial rapist and murderer had acted alone in committing the crime.
Central Park 'Exonerated 5' Member Reflects On Freedom And Forgiveness
Posted from npr.org
New York City
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Freedom
Forgiveness
Posted >1 y ago
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PO1 William "Chip" Nagel this was a ‘high profile’ case and, unfortunately, the facts and truth suffered ; not to mention the fact another innocent man was wrongly convicted which resulted in the incarceration of an innocent man. He ‘lost’ almost seven years of his life...there’s not enough money in the world to make up or give back those years of his life!
(not to mention the racist conviction)
(not to mention the racist conviction)
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