Source: Pool / Getty
It’s not a secret that back in the late 80s, y’all President had a serious part to play in defaming the names of the Central Park Five in the press.
With no DNA or real evidence, along with coerced testimonies from minors, the then reality mogul took out multiple full-page ads New York City newspapers condemning the boys and even calling for the death penalty.
Now, some twenty years later after a $40 million payout from the city was issued for being falsely imprisoned and the hit Netflix miniseries When They See Us, Trump was recently asked would he ever apologize to the men for his past acts.
Not surprisingly, he said no.
During a press event on Tuesday, veteran April D. Ryan asked #45,” Will you apologize to the Central Park Five?”
His response?
“Why do you bring this question up now? It’s an interesting time to bring it up,” adding, “You have people on both sides of that. They admitted their guilt. If you look at Linda Fairstein and if you look at some of the prosecutors, they think that the city should never have settled that case. So we’ll leave it at that.”
When They See Us director Ava DuVernay told the Los Angeles Times on Tuesday night that she wasn’t shocked by Trump’s response, Deadline reported.
“It’s expected. There’s nothing he says or does in relation to this case or the lives of black people or people of color that has any weight to it. It’s not our reality, there’s no truth to it,” she said.
How he can still stand by these words is beyond us, especially since Raymond Santana, Kevin Richardson, Antron McCray, Yusef Salaam and Korey Wise were cleared in 2002 when Matias Reyes, who was already in prison for rape and murder, came forward and confessed to the crime. DNA confirmed he was telling the truth.
Not surprisingly, people flocked to Twitter to express their disgust of the President’s recent shameful comments:
1.
Seeing my exasperation on @cnntonight last night reminds me that we can't let Trump zap our energy! Topic was his lack of remorse for calling for the execution of innocent children—the “Central Park Five”. This man is vile and dangerous and must be stopped! pic.twitter.com/34PyqQF24a
— Aisha C. Mills (@AishaMoodMills) June 19, 2019
2.
The abuse the Central Park Five suffered was a shameful moment in our city's history — one @realDonaldTrump fueled.
— Mayor Bill de Blasio (@NYCMayor) June 18, 2019
There’s no “both sides” here. We settled the Central Park Five case because they were innocent. Donald Trump is lying.
3.
It’s as if Trump thinks he’s talking about freaking pancakes! Like with Charlottesville, there are no “both sides” to the Central Park Five. There is only right and wrong. https://t.co/ukMuuibhCh
— Ana Navarro-Cárdenas (@ananavarro) June 18, 2019
4.
5.
The Central Park Five were conclusively proven to be innocent. Trump at the time wanted the African-American and Latino boys to be executed. He said, “It’s more than anger. It’s hatred, and I want society to hate ’em.” Today he still thinks they should have been punished. #Racist
— Cenk Uygur (@cenkuygur) June 19, 2019
6.
You can't change an evil heart... He will never apologize because he believes the hate he gave is justified as he proves to us every time he opens his mouth! #thewaytheyseeus #centralpark5 #stopthehate #TrumpMustResign
— Iam_Myraj (@Iam_MyraJ) June 19, 2019
7.
Trump declines opportunity to apologize to Central Park Five. He has never changed.https://t.co/ajOdlj64G3
— Ward Hinds (@Koaowner) June 19, 2019
8.
Trump doesn't apologize for his Central Park Five ads
— Poetic Visions (@JaniceY13348366) June 19, 2019
■Because he is a hypocritical racist! He is Only in the Whitehouse, because American traitors, and foreign allies helped to con Americans, and interfered with our elections! These are Godless people.https://t.co/uptLHjHKU2
9.
HOW CAN THERE BE TWO SIDES TO A CONFESSION AND DNA EXONERATION OF The Central Park Five @realDonaldTrump? What is wrong with you?
— Springer Spaniel (@lori024) June 19, 2019
10.
Trump refuses to apologize for calling for the death penalty for the Central Park Five. Cites Linda Fairstein in saying that some people think the case shouldn’t have been settled:
— Abby D. Phillip (@abbydphillip) June 18, 2019
"They think the city should never have settled that case. We'll leave it at that," Trump said.
11.
Trump today is STILL standing by his actions calling for the Central Park Five to get the death penalty. The men were exonerated in 2002 thanks to DNA & a convicted murderer & rapist's confession.
— Jeremy Diamond (@JDiamond1) June 18, 2019
"They admitted their guilt," Trump said when asked about it today
12.
Why do you not apologize to the Central Park 5? You asked for the execution of five innocent young men and aren’t man enough to apologize...an example of your insidious obsession when you think someone is guilty. Yet you fail to recognize guilt when you look in the mirror.
— Patty McCook (@waywardwahini) June 19, 2019