ALBAWABA - In a significant legal action, the "Central Park Five," a group of five individuals who were unfairly convicted in a well-known case, have sued Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in New York State for slander. This complaint stems from remarks made by Trump on September 10 during a debate with his opponent, Kamala Harris.
During the broadcast debate, Trump allegedly made false claims that they "killed a person and admitted to the crime," according to the plaintiffs, Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, Kevin Richardson, Antron Brown, and Korey Wise. They contend that in addition to defaming them, these comments compelled them to re-engage in attempts to defend their identities in front of 67 million people. They are thus requesting a jury trial for punitive damages and slander.
To divert attention from Harris's purported leftist agenda and her faltering campaign, Trump's spokesman, Steven Cheung, responded by calling the lawsuit a "typical election interference" by "desperate left-wing activists."
In 1989, six Black and Latinx youths were taken into custody for the vicious attack, rape, and attempted murder of 28-year-old white jogger Trisha Meili in Central Park. This incident is known as the "Central Park Five" case. The trio has alleged that they were forced to make their admissions. They denied everything, yet they were found guilty and given a jail term. When a second guy confessed to the crime in 2002, their convictions were finally reversed.
Along with being cleared, the organization received a $41 million settlement from New York City for false charges made against them. Harris emphasized during the latest debate that Trump had demanded their death in a full-page ad in the New York Times at the time of their arrest.
Yusef Salaam is still fighting for justice and change now while sitting on the New York City Council.
