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As described by Felicity Huffman, Fairstein is a blunt instrument. Its sole purpose is to obtain the convictions of an avenging public, even if there is not the slightest evidence to confirm the culpability of the teenagers. Since the release of the Netflix series last month, Fairstein, who has become a popular author, has been abandoned by his long-time publisher, resigned from the board of his alma mater and received the label equivalent to a letter Scarlet Social Media: #CancelLindaFairstein.
Yes, it's a little justice. Nevertheless, Fairstein is now held responsible for his wrongdoing.
Thirty years ago, Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana, Yusef Salaam, and Korey Wise were accused of raping and beating a young white woman while jogging in the famous New York green space. The boys were between 14 and 16 years old. The tabloids called the crime "wild", evoking the white fears of black and brown men ravaging white women who have persisted since the Pilgrims landed.
In response to the arrests, Donald Trump has published one-page advertisements in New York newspapers demanding the reinstatement of the death penalty.
No forensic evidence or DNA has linked the boys to crime. However, Fairstein pleaded his case based on confessions that they believed had been forced by threats, brutalities and broken promises during hours of interrogation.
At the time, New York Governor Mario Cuomo called the crime "the ultimate sign that none of us are safe."
What that also meant was something people of color already knew: they were not safe in the justice system. The Central Park Five served between six and 13 years before being cleared. In 2002, Matias Reyes, convicted of serial rape and murderer, confessed to the rape of the jogger and his DNA matched perfectly. The convictions against Central Park Five were overturned and the city subsequently settled a $ 41 million lawsuit filed by the men.
Meanwhile, Fairstein retired as a prosecutor and became a successful novelist. In 1993, Glamor awarded her the title of "Woman of the Year", a decision her editors now regret.
Despite the exemptions, Fairstein has never expressed remorse for his role in improving the lives of these young men. Instead, she is now on a crusade to wipe out her own name, claiming that DuVernay's film is "full of distortions and lies," as she wrote in a Wall Street Journal editorial.
In a tweetDuVernay said about Fairstein's comments: "Expected and typical".
I will give Fairstein so much credit – she is always convincing to be bad and strong. She has spent decades believing that the investigation was consistent with the letter of the law. If the former prosecutor cared more about justice than her reputation, she regretted not having contributed to terrified children having a difficult life behind bars. She would have spent time trying to repair the psychological damage this affair has caused to communities of color in New York and beyond.
Fairstein should also show some contrition towards at least five women who were attacked by Reyes after the Central Park attack. He remained free because Fairstein instead set up a fake affair fueled by systemic racism, the prosecutor's wrongdoing, and the shocked lynching mentality of the city.
"When you're sick, you can not run; No matter how long, the truth is revealed, "said Santana of Central Park Five recently about Fairstein. "Although it's 30 years later, she has to pay for her crime."
Central Park Five paid a high price for a crime they did not commit. Finally, the woman who has brutally interrupted their lives begins to pay for his own.
You can contact Renee Graham at the following address: [email protected]. Follow her on Twitter @reneeygraham.
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