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In 1989, five Black and Latino teenage boys, Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Antron McCray, Korey Wise, and Raymond Santana, were falsely accused of raping and assaulting a white female jogger in Central Park. The police interrogated them for hours without the presence of parents or lawyers. This lead to pressurized confessions. Despite no physical evidence, they were convicted and imprisoned.

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A sketch of the courtroom during the trial

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A sketch of the courtroom during the trial

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The teens were between 14 and 16 years old. The NYPD and prosecutors pushed for their conviction. Public figures like Donald Trump called for the death penalty in full page newspaper ads. Years later, Matias Reyes (not apart of the original five) confessed to the crime, and DNA evidence confirmed his guilt.

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April 19, 1989: Crime occurs.

1990: The Five are convicted.

2002: Matias Reyes confesses; convictions overturned.

2014: NYC settles for $41 million.

2019: Netflix releases When They See Us.

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“They were convicted before the trial even began.” —Sarah Burns
Learn more: https://www.pbs.org/kenburns/the-central-park-five/

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Learn more about The Central Park Five, a film from Ken Burns, which tells the story of the five black and Latino teenagers from Harlem who were wrongly convicted of raping a white woman in New York City's Central Park in 1989.

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This case shows how systemic racism and media hysteria can destroy lives. The boys were stereotyped, their youth not taken into account, and the justice system failed them. Their race played a major role in the publics speedy judgment.

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The media called them a “wolf pack” and portrayed them as violent criminals. Trump’s newspaper ads influenced fear and hate over them, pressuring the system to convict them. This is an example of modern day groupthink and mob mentality.

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After their release, the five struggled with the trauma of prison, the loss of their youth, and damaged reputations. The Netflix series When They See Us raised awareness about their story, and now they advocate for justice reform.

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Connection to The Crucible & The Scarlet Letter

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Connection to The Crucible & The Scarlet Letter

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Like in The Crucible, the boys were pressured into false confessions, just like many Salem victims.

Both cases show the dangers of groupthink and mass hysteria when people are afraid.

Like Hester Prynne in The Scarlet Letter, the boys were shamed and judged publicly, even without solid proof.

The public judged them quickly, showing the same kind of strict thinking seen in The Scarlet Letter.

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Central Park Five: Crime, Coverage & Settlement | HISTORY

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In 1989, five New York teenagers were falsely accused of rape.