LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION recognizing and remembering the false conviction
of the five innocent youths, Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Raymond
Santana, Yusef Salaam, and Kharey Wise, also known as the Central Park
Five, on the 21st Anniversary of the Central Park Jogger Case

WHEREAS, The history of the United States is replete with examples of de
facto and de jure segregation; and
WHEREAS, That history has often led to the cruel and brutal mistreat-
ment of this country's darker citizens; and
WHEREAS, That history has, in some instances, led to a lynch mob
mentality, which was not satisfied until some person of color was
deprived of life or liberty; and
WHEREAS, Less than 50 years ago, a lynch mob mentality resulted in the
torture and brutal death of Emmet Till, a young black boy, for whistling
at a white woman in a southern town; and
WHEREAS, The lynch mob mentality drew in some of the American press,
local law enforcement and the criminal justice system and caused nine
innocent young black men, known as the "Scottsboro boys," to be tried,
convicted, and made to serve long sentences for allegedly raping two
white women; and
WHEREAS, On April 19, 1989, a white female jogger was brutally
assaulted and raped in Central Park; and
WHEREAS, Officers of the New York Police Department jumped to the
conclusion that several young black boys had committed the heinous acts
simply because they were in the general vicinity of the crime; and
WHEREAS, The portrayal of this event by the media truly emphasized how
trial by media can lead to disastrous and inexcusable outcomes; the
media dubbed them "wolves running in a wolf pack"; the tabloids and TV
news were predictably sensationalistic and a presumption of guilt
infected coverage everywhere; racially biased media coverage fueled the
fires of hatred against the five innocent youths; and
WHEREAS, Most of the media, the public, and some elected officials
were seen as instigators and even supporters of a lynch mob mentality,
which no doubt helped lead to the false conviction of the Central Park
Five; there were those who stood as laudable and admirable guardians of
the truth, which sadly, so few were willing to hear; and
WHEREAS, The lynch mob mentality caused the arrest and wrongful
conviction of Antron McCray, age 15, Yusef Salaam, age 15, Raymond
Santana, age 15, Kevin Richardson, age 14 and Kharey Wise, age 16,
despite there being no real physical evidence to tie them to the crimes;
and
WHEREAS, The five teenagers, who had no previous contact with the
criminal justice system, were forced to serve long terms of incarcera-
tion in juvenile and adult prisons; and
WHEREAS, The young men were forced to register as sex offenders upon
their release from prison and continue to carry the stigma of their
arrest and wrongful conviction; and
WHEREAS, A convicted rapist, Matias Reyes, came forward in 2001 and
confessed that he, and he alone, attacked and raped the Central Park
jogger on April 19, 1989, and DNA tests concluded that he was the source
of the previously unidentified DNA from the crime; and
WHEREAS, In spite of that new evidence, which the Manhattan District
Attorney's office found to be very credible and warranted the vacating
of the convictions of the young men, the City of New York has refused to
compensate Antron McCray, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, Kevin Richard-
son, and Kharey Wise and their families for the unimaginable hardships
and sacrifices they endured because of their wrongful convictions; and

WHEREAS, Not only have the five young men and their families suffered,
but as is often the case when a lynch mob is set loose, their community
has suffered from this injustice; and
WHEREAS, The refusal to justly compensate the Central Park Five and
their families constitutes not only a stain on New York City and all of
its communities, but moreover serves to compound the injustice experi-
enced by the Central Park jogger; and
WHEREAS, The quality and sanctity of community life are cherished
values, worthy of safeguarding; this Legislative Body is moved to honor
those who truly preserve and protect such values, lauding particularly
their unwavering courage and dedication; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
recognize and remember the wrongful conviction of the five innocent
youths, Antron McCray, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, Kevin Richardson,
and Kharey Wise on the 21st Anniversary of the Central Park jogger case;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That videotaping of confessions should begin from the point
and time of arrest and include all interrogations up until arraignment;
and be it further
RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to the five innocent individuals and their families.