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Korey Wise

One of the Central Park Five & Criminal Justice Activist

Korey Wise
Travels From Travels From:
New York, NY, USA
Speaking Fee Speaking Fee:
Live Event: $20,000 - $30,000
Virtual Event: Please Contact
More Fee Info
Categories Categories:
Categories Categories:
Civil Rights, Government, Law, Social Activism, Social Justice, Television & Film
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Korey Wise Biography

When police began collecting suspects in the 1989 Central Park Jogger case, Korey Wise's friend, 15-year-old Yusef Salaam, was brought in for questioning. In a show of support, Korey decided to accompany him. This turned out to be a grave mistake, however, as the police ended up pulling him into the interrogation room as well.

At 16, Korey was the oldest of the boys who would eventually become known as the "Central Park Five." And because of his age, he was legally allowed to be questioned by detectives without the supervision of a parent or guardian. Combine this with the fact that Korey struggled with hearing issues and a learning disability, and the teen was especially vulnerable to the pressures of the detectives' allegedly aggressive questioning.

By the end of his interrogation, Korey had given both a written and a videotaped confession. The details in his statements didn't match the details of the actual crime, and Korey would later say that the police, led by head of the Manhattan D.A.'s sex crimes unit Linda Fairstein, coerced him into submitting a false confession.

Despite the lack of solid evidence, all five boys were ultimately found guilty of various charges of rape and assault in the Central Park Jogger case. But unlike the other four teens, who were tried as minors and sentenced to five to 10 years in a youth correctional facility (where they could be held until they turned 21), Korey was sentenced to five to 15 years — all of which were to be spent in an adult prison.

The teenager was initially sent to Rikers Island, the infamous New York City jail. And as is shown in the fourth and final episode of When They See Us, it was a rough time for him: Just a kid thrust into a group of adult criminals, Korey was subject to great violence and abuse during his time there and in other federal prisons. He also spent several long periods of his incarceration locked away in solitary confinement.

Eventually, Korey met murderer and serial rapist Matias Reyes in prison, and Matias confessed to be to being the actual, lone perpetrator of the Central Park Jogger rape. A DNA test (along with Matias's knowledge of the details of the crime) confirmed his guilt, and in 2002, Korey was released from prison. By that time, he had served 12 years.

Today, Korey still lives in New York City, where he works as a public speaker and criminal justice activist. In 2015, he donated $190,000 to the University of Colorado's chapter of the Innocence Project, which then changed its name to the Korey Wise Innocence Project at Colorado Law in his honor.

To this day, Korey's friend Yusef says he still feels "pain" for unintentionally bringing Korey into the Central Park Jogger case — and the release of Netflix's When They See Us only amplifies that feeling.

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Speaker profile last updated by AAE Talent Team on 08/01/2024.

Korey Wise Videos

  • Members of the Central Park 5 react to Korey Wise's story in 'When ...
    Members of the Central Park 5 react to Korey Wise's story in 'When ...
    Five men who were wrongfully convicted when they were just teens for the 1989 rape of a jogger in New York City are telling their story through ...
See All Videos »

FAQs on booking Korey Wise

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  • What topics does Korey Wise speak about?

    Korey Wise is a keynote speaker and industry expert whose speaking topics include Civil Rights, Government, Law, Social Activism, Social Justice, Television & Film.

  • Where does Korey Wise travel from?

    Korey Wise generally travels from New York, NY, USA, but can be booked for private corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. For more details, please contact an AAE Booking agent.

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    AAE Speakers Bureau has successfully booked keynote speakers like Korey Wise for clients worldwide since 2002. As a full-service speaker booking agency, we have access to virtually any speaker or celebrity in the world. Our agents are happy and able to submit an offer to the speaker or celebrity of your choice, letting you benefit from our reputation and long-standing relationships in the industry. Please click the Check Availability button above and complete the form on this page including the details of your event, or call our office at 1.800.698.2536, and one of our agents will assist you to book Korey Wise for your next private or corporate function.

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Korey Wise is a keynote speaker and industry expert who speaks on a wide range of topics . The estimated speaking fee range to book Korey Wise for your event is $20,000 - $30,000. Korey Wise generally travels from New York, NY, USA and can be booked for (private) corporate events, personal appearances, keynote speeches, or other performances. Similar motivational celebrity speakers are Raymond Santana Jr., Kevin Richardson, Yusef Salaam, Tamika D. Mallory and Arthur Garrison. Contact All American Speakers for ratings, reviews, videos and information on scheduling Korey Wise for an upcoming live or virtual event.

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