ELLENSBURG, Wash.-One of the Exonerated Five will speak in Yakima and at Central Washington University.
Raymond Santana is one of five African-Americans wrongfully convicted of an attack in Central Park as a teenager in 1989, will be the guest of honor for events in Yakima on Jan. 31 and will speak at CWU on Feb. 1, according to a press release from the school.
Formerly referred to as “The Central Park Five,” Santana and four others were wrongfully convicted as teenagers and served between 5 and 13 years in prison for the rape and assault of a woman.
After their convictions were overturned in 2002 based on DNA evidence, the Exonerated Five began travelling the country advocating for change and educating people about the disparities in the American criminal justice system, according to a CWU press release.
Santana will speak at Eisenhower and Davis high schools in Yakima on Wednesday, Jan. 31, before delivering a community presentation to the Rotary Club of Yakima.
On Feb. 1, Santana will attend a breakfast with young leaders of color, hosted by the Rotary Club of Yakima, followed by a visit to CWU for a town hall-style speaking engagement at 6:30 p.m. in the McIntyre Music Building.
The event at CWU is free and open to the public.
