Who can forget the heartbreaking story of the Central Park Five? The group of black and latino teenagers were wrongfully convicted of the brutal rape and assault of a white female jogger in New York City’s Central Park in 1989.
Earlier this week, three of them — Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam and Raymond Santana Jr — received honorary high school diplomas from Bronx Preparatory High.
The three men, who are now in their 40s, each had earned a G.E.D. and an associate degree while incarcerated, but had missed out on their high school graduation ceremonies.
According to the New York Times, the school’s assistant principal, Cassius Gil, wanted to do something special for the men after Richardson visited Bronx Prep teacher Marie Colucci’s class.
Colucci’s students had reportedly asked to meet them after watching the “Central Park Five” documentary, which the teacher used as a tool to educate her students about the justice system.
“Even though we were not able to go back and right the wrong of not getting our high school diplomas outside, here we are being honored in such a way in front of our family and friends,” said Mr. Salaam during his keynote speech. “This is a blessing.”
The two other members of the Central Park Five, Antron McCray and Kharey Wise, will receive their honorary diplomas by mail as they weren’t able to attend the ceremony.
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