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Ani’yah Reed

Written Communications

Elizabeth Cuddy

10/18/20

Bring back the death penalty. Bring back the police.

In 1989, a 28-year-old White investment banker by the name of Trisha Meili’s, had been out for a

jog when she was brutality raped and assaulted in New York City's Central Park. The injuries of

the case were so critical and disturbing that it led to a widespread public outcry, practically in-

sisting that justice be found. Shortly after, Donald trump payed for an AD in the New York times

calling for the death penalty of five Black and Latino teenagers aging from 14-16. Despite incon-

sistencies in their stories, no eyewitnesses, and no DNA evidence linking them to the crime,

these five teens were convicted of the charges. In the article, Donald J. Trump, persuaded his au-

dience to not only believe the central park five were guilty but that they should be put to death.

The articles structure and appeal to emotions played a huge role in persuading the audience,

however it lacked the use of Ethos & Logos.

From first glance at the big bold title reading,

“Bring back the death penalty. Bring back the police.”

Trump automatically appeals to the audiences emotion. He does this by attempting by to evoke a

sense of anger and fear. Its safe to say that as a community we all want to be safe, the police are

looked at our main source of protection and safety; Without them whats left? Knowing the im-

portance of police in a community, Trump includes this in his argument to get his audience to
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Ani’yah Reed

Written Communications

Elizabeth Cuddy

10/18/20

agree with him. He also directly targets and includes all memebers of the community by saying,

“Many New York families – white, black, Hispanic and Asian – have had to give up the pleasure

of leisurely stroll in the park at dusk, the Saturday visit to the program with their families, the

bike ride at Dawn…. as roving bands of wild criminals roam our neighborhoods, dispensing their

own vicious brand of twisted hatred on whoever they encounter.” (Trump 1). As a minority in

America, I can say that we aren’t often included in situations like these. The fact that trump men-

tioned minorites, along with majorities played a huge role in persuading his audience because

they instantly felt as if they were with him, opposed to against him.

At the time the article was released, Donald Trump had no prior experience in Politics.

Being a businessman born into a rich family, he was nothing more than an outside eye looking

in, so his credibility should be highly questionable. Regardless of his take on the situation, if

someone is to speak on an open case, they should at least have a strong background in politics or

the justice system. Trump on the other hand had neither, he was solely someone who had the re-

sources to invest $85,000 in an Ad and ran with his invalid opinion on it. His opinion reached

millions in the city, playing a role in the conviction of the central park five.
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Ani’yah Reed

Written Communications

Elizabeth Cuddy

10/18/20

In addition to his lack of credibility, Trump also fails to apply logic to his argument or

point he’s aiming to get across. When accusing five young men of a crime so severe and having

no form of evidence, an author should automatically should be seen as not logical. Trump not

only jumps to a conclusions about the case without any sense of evidence but he libels each and

every one of the victims by showcasing false accusations. In fact, none of the suspects' DNA

matched the DNA collected from the crime scene, and the two semen samples found both be-

longed to an unidentified man. So how is it logical to not only assume but publish flash informa-

tions insinuating these five men were guilty (Wikipedia contributors, “Central Park Jogger

Case”).

Alongside the idea of Ethos, Pathos, & Logos, Trump uses specific terminology thats easy to

come across to his audience. When writing in a Newspaper, it's important the author writes an

article that gets straight to the point and is easy to read. I say this for the simple fact that you’re

not reaching out to a specific audience, you're talking to people ranging from many ages and ed-

ucational backgrounds; Make use of challenging terminology wouldn't be the best decision in

this case and Trump knew that.

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Ani’yah Reed

Written Communications

Elizabeth Cuddy

10/18/20

Overall I feel that regardless of the outcome, the article did not persuade the audience. The arti-

cle lacked critical rhetorical strategies and devices that is essential to persuading an audience

properly. Though the article played a huge role in the conviction of the exonerated five, anyone

with any common sense should question the logic, credibility, and overall facts of the article.
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Ani’yah Reed

Written Communications

Elizabeth Cuddy

10/18/20

Work-Cited

1. Trump, Donald. “Bring Back the Death Penalty. Bring Back the Police.” New York Times,

Daily News [New York], 1 Apr. 1989, p. 1.

2. “Central Park Jogger Case.” Wikipedia, 26 Oct. 2020, en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Central_-

Park_jogger_case#:%7E:text=None%20of%20the%20suspects’%20DNA,related%20as-

sault%20and%20other%20charges.

3. History.com Editors. “The Central Park Five.” HISTORY, 23 Sept. 2019, www.history.-

com/topics/1980s/central-park-five#:%7E:text=In%202003%2C%20the%20Central%20-

Park,settling%20for%20%2441%20million%20dollars.

4. “What Was the Extent Of The Central Park Jogger’s Injuries?” Oxygen Official Site, 4

June 2019, www.oxygen.com/martinis-murder/central-park-joggers-injuries-trisha-meili.

5. Waxman, Olivia. “President Trump Played a Key Role in the Central Park Five Case.

Here’s the Real History Behind When They See Us.” Time, 31 May 2019, time.com/

5597843/central-park-five-trump-history.