Raymond Santana runs for the NYC Council and focuses on the reform of criminal justice

Raymond Santana, who was convicted as a teenager in Central Park Jogger case in 1989 in 1989, announced his candidacy for the New York city council.

The 50 -year -old Santana runs as a democrat to represent parts of East Harlem and the Bronx, the same districts in which he was incorrectly arrested more than three decades ago.

The Santana campaign focuses on the reform of the criminal justice, affordable living space and the fighting of what he described as the deterioration of the districts plagued by drugs, rats and high rents.

“You look around and see that the normal stuff doesn't work,” said Santana of the New York Times. “That is why we need someone who is outside the system who can come with another lens.”

Santana and four other blacks and Latin American teenagers were accused of brutal rape of a white jogger in Central Park in 1989. The case fascinated the nation, which was promoted by sensational media reporting and demands for violent punishment.

Now President Donald Trump, then New York's real estate developer, recorded all -round newspaper advertisements in which the death penalty was restored, and explained: “Bring the death penalty back. Bring our police back. ”

Despite the relief of the group in 2002 – after a convicted rapist had granted to act alone and DNA evidence confirmed his guilt – Trump never apologized. In his 2016 presidential campaign, he continued to exist on her fault.

“The damage he has done with these advertisements cannot be reversed,” said Santana. “Even after we had proven to be innocent, he always came to us.”

Santana spent about five years in prison before being released on probation. In 2014, New York City agreed with an agreement of 41 million US dollars with Santana and the other four men -often referred to five five, which for each year they were detained for them, around 1 million US dollars .

Since his release, Santana has become a national lawyer for the reform of the criminal justice. He traveled as a motivational speaker, founded a clothing line and worked with the legislator to adopt laws to prevent illegal convictions. One of his political priorities is that minors have to advise lawyers before they forego their Miranda rights and the ban on the police survey.

If Santana were chosen, he would join the other with five member Yusef Salaam with the divided, who won a city council seat in Harlem in 2023.

“I always said that those who were closest to the pain should have a place at the table,” said Salaam. “Raymond is a living proof of why this is important.”

The campaign is personal for Santana.

“Having a community that was up to me when Donald Trump and the rest of the world attacked us – they always had my back,” he said. “So I have to have yours.”