Civil Rights in the 2024 Election: Al Sharpton & The Central Park Five

Rev. Al Sharpton and the Central Park Five address racial injustice at the DNC. Sharpton contrasts Trump’s and Harris’s attitudes, and the Exonerated Five endorse Harris.

By Saron Alem, News and Features Editor

The Central Park Five and Rev. Al Sharpton speak on racial injustice at night four of the DNC. Photo courtesy of Saron Alem.

Despite speaking at night four of the Democratic National Convention, Rev. Al Sharpton began his speech saying the “[National Action Network does] not endorse candidates.” Rather, Sharpton’s organization reports on where candidates stand on issues of importance.

Sharpton began by pointing out that, in the 40 years he’s known former President Trump, he’s only once taken a stance on racial issues.

That stance was calling for the execution of the Central Park Five, a group of men of color who were wrongfully accused and convicted of the rape of a women in the late 1980s, forced to spend a total of 41 years in prison as innocents.

Sharpton revealed that he would be bringing the Central Park Five onto the stage to speak later on.

He quickly contrasted former President Trump and Vice President Harris, now Democratic nominee, by insisting that Trump loved to “fan racial flames,” while Harris had commemorated Bloody Sunday – a 1965 march in which 600 marchers were attacked by state officials – alongside him.

Continuing on with the contrasts in racial attitudes between Trump and Harris, Sharpton referred to an earlier comment of Trump’s saying migrants were taking Black jobs, and quipped a witty, “Well in November, we’ll show him when Blacks do their jobs.”

“We will not go back,” vowed Sharpton, a sentiment that was echoed through the multitude of other speakers that night. He referenced LGBTQ+ and voting rights, strongly denouncing any attempts of rolling back civil rights.

“We may endure the fortnight, but joy comes in the morning,” recited Sharpton as he ended his segment.

Referring to them not as the Central Park Five, but the Exonerated Five, Sharpton called the men out to the stage.

Korey Wise started off his speech by remarking on how their “youths were stolen” from them. He quickly emphasized what Sharpton had stated earlier, saying that Trump spent $85,000 on a full-page advertisement in the New York Times calling for the Exonerated Five’s execution.
Following Wise’s endorsement of Harris, Yusef Salaam stepped up to speak. “45 wanted us unalive,” said Salaam, referring to Trump as the 45th President of the USA. Despite DNA evidence and a confession from the perpetrator, said Salaam, Trump declared he was sticking with the original guilty verdict.

Endorsing Harris and speaking to the audience, Salaam said, “I want you to walk with us, I want you to march with us, I want you to vote with us [in the November election].”

“Free at last, free at last, thank God almighty, we are free at last,” said Salaam, not only to the Exonerated Five’s convictions, but also to Harris being on the ballot.