Central Park 5 “When They See Us”-Miscarriage of Justice or Uncommon Occurrence?

 

Due to the popularity of the recent Netflix series, “When They See Us”, the ladies of OEL tackle the story surrounding the Central Park 5 and the injustice that occurred. 

The story of the Central Park 5 took place in 1989. A case of five teenagers who were wrongfully convicted of beating and raping Trisha Meili, a 28-year-old, white woman who was jogging in the park. Five young black and Hispanic men, aged between 14 and 16, would be found guilty and jailed for the crime.

“When They See Us” a documentary created by Ava Duvernay is based on events of the 1989 Central Park jogger case and explores the lives of the five suspects: Korey Wise, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana, Antron McCray, and Yusef Salaam who were prosecuted on charges related to the sexual assault of a female victim, and of their families.

One spring evening in 1989, a group of around 30 teenagers were hanging out in Central Park, New York. Some of them were causing serious trouble – including badly hurting others in the park and harassing homeless people. On the same night in the park, a woman, Patricia Mellie, was found badly beaten and raped. She was in a coma for 12 days.

They were picked up by the police after the attack and questioned at length. At some point, confessions started coming out. The series depicts the boys as confused, thinking that they could go home if they told police what they wanted to hear. They all maintained their innocence and said they were coerced into confessing. They were interrogated without their parents or lawyers present and forced into pleading guilty to a crime they didn’t commit.

Linda Fairstein, a New York City prosecutor, persuaded Elizabeth Lederer, the lawyer on the case to convict the boys. The trial was based off the false confessions, there was no evidence to connect the boys to the crime. After they spent from six to 13 years in prison, a serial rapist confessed to the crime and their convictions were vacated in 2002. The next year, the boys sued New York City for malicious prosecution, racial discrimination and emotional distress. In 2014, the city of New York settled with the five wrongly convicted men for $41 million dollars.

 

Roundtable

 

OEL hosts discussed their thoughts and feelings behind the series. Host Chelsea Jade, could not watch the series, she watched one episode realizing its painful emotional nature. Chelsea needed to process the first episode. It made her think of family and friends saying it hit close to home to see so many young Black and Brown boys and men that have experienced injustice. Also noting the importance of advocating for people of color in your community.

Host Lindset J said the series is hard to watch, especially episode 4 highlighting the story of Korey Wise, the eldest of the boys. Korey, who was hard of hearing and had learning difficulties experience the most severe punishment, including being beaten and raped while in prison.

He spent 13 years in New York’s harshest prisons. Korey was not in the park on the evening of the incident, he went to the police station to offer moral support to his friend Yusef and as a result he would be charged as an adult.

Host Lindsey J spoke on Antron McCray and how the police intimidated his father bringing up his background and threatening him. Soon after the threats, Antron’s father told his son to do whatever the police say and give them what they want. Antron was adamant about not wanting to confess to a crime he didn’t commit. In a later interview conducted by Oprah, Antron was asked about his relationship with his father. He said he never forgave him for what he had done and does not have a relationship with him.

Host Chelsea Jade spoke on the racial injustice that she experienced at the hands of the police. She can recall as a teenager been wrongfully stopped by police and removed from her car without cause. She and her friends were forced to sit on the side of the road while the police searched her car. The police claimed she had a missing or broken light, but according to Chelsea Jade that was not the case. After being humiliated the police let them go.

Our hosts spoke on the boys experiencing racial discrimination, racial injustice and racial profiling. Noting they were vulnerable, didn’t know their rights and had no clue they had the option to call their parents. They were being held by the police and accused of a crime that they did not commit. They were hungry, tired, afraid and even beaten into confessing. They all believed if they followed the police’s instructions they would be able to go home. The police and prosecutors were intimidating and the boys feared for their lives.

 Hosts noted how it was unfortunate that they experienced such unjust racism simply because the police were trying to reach a “quota” and needed someone to blame. Brown and black males are the most targeted group for discrimination. The boys were arrested for no other reason than being in the wrong place at the wrong time.

 

Awareness

 

In an interview with Oprah, Ava Duvernay stated she wanted to bring more attention to the injustice experienced by the boys. She needed everyone, not just black and brown people to see and experience what happened to these boys. Ava spoke on why she chose the name “When They See Us”. She shared how the name Central Park 5 was given to them unjustly and she wanted them to be named for who they are and not of the crimes in which they were accused of committing.

These situations of false accusations and false arrests of black and brown males happen far too often. It instills a sense of fear in black women especially those raising males. Women are afraid of their sons going out into the world fearing what may happen to them.  

The African American community must look out for one another says our hosts. There’s no way to know what police might do to a black male or their families says host (INSERT NAME). With the unjust killings and arrests still happening today, there’s no telling what police will get away with. It’s important for everyone to know their rights.

 There is a perception of black males coming from low income neighborhood. It’s been said that they are a product of their environment and have nothing good to offer this world. Some police rely on this very notion and use it to target black and brown males.

The Netflix documentary “The 13th”, also directed and produced by Ava Duvernay, sheds light on the injustices of the legal system, what it has done, and how people are being misled. “13th” begins with an alarming statistic: One out of four African-American males will serve prison time at one point or another in their lives.

 

Rich and Guilty, Poor and Innocent

Bryan Stevenson is the founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative in Montgomery, Alabama.  Mr. Stevenson is a widely acclaimed public interest lawyer who has dedicated his career to helping the poor, the incarcerated and the condemned. Bryan has spent more than three decades challenging poverty and racial discrimination within the criminal justice system. Bryan is a founding leader of the movement against mass incarceration in the U.S.

Bryan was interviewed by Oprah on her podcast and was quoted as saying: “we have a system of justice that treats you better if you are rich and guilty than if you’re poor and innocent”. “Wealth, not culpability, shapes outcomes.” If you’re rich, you could buy your way out of anything. However, if you’re poor than you’re at the mercy of the legal system. Stevenson has challenged bias against the poor and minorities in the criminal justice system, especially children. For more information on Bryan Stevenson please visit his website.

 

Key Takeaways from This Episode

• Do your research to know and understand your rights

• Black and brown males need someone to advocate on their behalf

• There is a petition on change.org  called #cancellindafairstein

• The justice system rewards the rich and punishes the poor

• Your environment can affect how the justice system treats you

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