NPR Network Reports Live from Democratic National Convention in Chicago
- Al Sharpton criticizes Donald Trump for advocating for the execution of innocent teenagers in the Central Park 5 case.
- Sharpton highlights the wrongful conviction of Black and Brown teenagers in the high-profile case.
- The remarks shed light on the racial disparities and injustices in the US criminal justice system.
The NPR Network is providing live coverage from Chicago this week, focusing on the Democratic National Convention. Prominent civil rights activist Al Sharpton addressed the audience, contrasting the two leading figures in the political landscape: Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. Sharpton criticized Trump for his past actions, specifically referencing the full-page ads he took out calling for the execution of the Central Park Five, a group of teenagers wrongfully convicted in a high-profile case from 1989. Sharpton introduced the exonerated members of the Central Park Five, who joined him in urging the DNC audience to support Harris for the presidency. The five men—Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana, Korey Wise, and Yusef Salaam—were wrongfully convicted of a brutal crime against a white jogger in Central Park, a case that exacerbated racial tensions in New York City. Their convictions were vacated in 2002 after another man confessed to the crime. Despite the exoneration, Trump has maintained his stance on the original guilty verdict, refusing to apologize for his previous comments and actions regarding the case. In 2019, he suggested that opinions on the case remain divided, indicating that some prosecutors believe the city should not have settled with the Central Park Five. The ongoing discourse highlights the enduring impact of this case on American society and politics.