TRUMP JUSTICE

MUSIC – An up-tempo 1980s synthesizer.

Donald Trump VO: I’m Judge Trump. Some people don’t deserve to live in this beautiful city. Some people are animals… and you know which ones I’m talkin’ about…

Judge Donald Trump pimpwalks down the street toward a NYC Court Building. As he enters, he gives hi-fives to the security guard.

Donald Trump VO: The world isn’t what it used to be. But luckily for you, there’s one man that still has the class and the know how to get things straight.

Judge Donald sits at his bench.

Donald Trump VO: That man is me. Judge Trump. Justice is served… with a silver spoon.

Last week it was reported that New York City has agreed to settle the case with Raymond Santana, Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Kharey Wise, and Yusef Salaam. The five men, also known as the “Central Park Five” were arrested and prisoned for the 1989 mugging and rape of “The Central Park Jogger”. The $250million civil case was settled for $40million dollars.

Salaam, McCray, Santana, and Richardson all served seven-year prison sentences. Wise, who was tried as an adult, served 13 years. All were irreparably damaged by prison, and if you haven’t seen The Central Park Five documentary by Ken Burns, Sarah Burns, and David McMahon, then you should immediately. Not only is it a stirring account of this case, but is also a greater record of police procedure, especially when it involves young black men.

But back to Trump. A man who has long viewed himself as not only the king on New York, but also its moral core, Trump was never a supporter of the Central Park Five. In fact, he was quite the opposite. This is a man who led, the charge in making sure these young men were proverbially tarred and feathered with his now famous full page New York Daily News ad.

And now he think it’s a disgrace that the city has settled the case for $40million. On this we can agree. $40million?!? That might have been an acceptable sum in 1989, but these gentlemen were suing the city for $250million. It’s likely that even at that much, I would be complaining that it’s not enough. What is the appropriate sum for a lost youth and a combined forty-one years in captivity? I can’t answer that. No one can, but $40million divided among five destroyed men hardly seems like enough. The world isn’t enough. However, if they had been awarded $250million, it might make Donald Trump’s head explode and then we’d all be winners.