Korey Wise

The  recognized for appearing in the TV show When They See Us (2019).

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July 26, 1972

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United States

Korey Wise is an American activist and criminal justice reformer. He is best known for being one of the Central Park Five, a group of young black and Hispanic men who were wrongfully convicted of the rape and assault of a jogger in 1989. Wise was the oldest member of the group and served 12 years in prison before being exonerated in 2002. Since his release, Wise has become an advocate for criminal justice reform and has spoken publicly about his experiences. Some of his other works and achievements include founding the Korey Wise Innocence Project, serving as an ambassador for the Innocence Project, and receiving a Lifetime Achievement Award from President Barack Obama.

Korey Wise got his name from his father, who wanted to give him a unique name that would stand out. He was born and raised in New York City, and as a teenager in 1989, he was wrongfully convicted, along with four other young black and Hispanic men, for the rape and assault of a jogger in Central Park. The group became known as the Central Park Five. Despite maintaining their innocence, they spent years in prison before ultimately being exonerated in 2002 through DNA evidence. Since then, Wise has become an activist and advocate for criminal justice reform, sharing his story and working to prevent others from suffering the same injustice.

One less known fact about Korey Wise is that he served as a firefighter for the city of New York after his release from prison. He worked as an FDNY employee for several years before retiring from the department. Wise has also been involved in various philanthropic efforts, such as supporting organizations that help at-risk youth and donating to the Harlem Children’s Zone.