Senator Myrie, Brooklyn Electeds to Host Screening and Discussion on Central Park Five Case

(BROOKLYN) - Senator Zellnor Y. Myrie, along with several Brooklyn Elected Officials and community groups, will host a screening and panel discussion of the new Netflix miniseries, “When They See Us,” created by acclaimed director Ava DuVernay, which tells the story of the Central Park Five.

The screening will be co-hosted by Congress Member Yvette Clarke, Assembly Member Walter Mosley, Assembly Member Diana Richardson, and Council Member Laurie Cumbo.

“Thirty years after the Central Park Five were wrongfully convicted, this story remains part of our present,” said Senator Myrie. “New York’s criminal justice system continues to target innocent young men of color and the fight to reform that system continues as well. I am proud to invite our community to enjoy Ms. DuVernay’s latest thought-provoking work on this important issue and continue the discussion of the fight for criminal justice reform in New York.”

Following the screening, Senator Myrie will moderate a discussion on criminal justice reform with: Professor Bryan Price of Medgar Evers College, Deron Johnston of the Brownsville Community Justice Center, and Rebecca Brown of the Innocence Project.

Assembly Member Diana C. Richardson (D-43) said: "The story of the Central Park Five is still very relevant today. We need to continue having conversations about serious criminal justice reforms now as our black and brown communities are being incarcerated at alarmingly high rates. I cannot wait to watch Ava DuVernay's new series and hear our discussion for criminal justice reform."

Assembly Member Mosley (D-57): “’When They See Us’ is a captivating series that brings to the forefront the problems people of color have dealt with in the criminal justice systems for centuries. Screenings such as these are vital in helping to educate what flaws exist in our current criminal justice system and highlighting what we can do to fix them. Let us understand that people of color are still plagued by this systemic criminalization all across our country. Now is the time to have meaningful change in our criminal justice system. No more ‘wait until next year,’ we will wait no longer, the time has come for action and I am proud to be a part of that change.”

The screening will held at Medgar Evers College, 1650 Bedford Avenue in Brooklyn, on June 1st from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. Tickets can be reserved at http://bit.ly/ZMCP5Panel.

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Contact: Jonathan Timm, 313-618-7005, jt.nysenate@gmail.com