On April 12, join the Illinois Innocence Project at University of Illinois Springfield along with WSEC/Network Knowledge and the Hoogland Center for the Arts for a screening of The Central Park Five. This award-winning documentary by filmmaker Ken Burns tells the story of the five black and Latino teenagers from Harlem who were convicted of raping a white woman in New York City’s Central Park in 1989. The Central Park Five follows the point of view of the five teenagers who were eventually released and cleared of charges after a 13-year imprisonment, thanks to DNA evidence and a confession by a serial rapist. The screening is a precursor to the Illinois Innocence Project’s “Defenders of the Innocent” gala on Saturday, April 29, featuring exoneree and Central Park Five member Yusef Salaam. The April 12 film screening will include hors d’oeuvres, a cash bar, and a question-and-answer session with Illinois Innocence Project attorneys. Seating is limited for the screening, which means reservations are encouraged. Reservations can be made by emailing illinoisinnocenceproject@uis.edu or by calling 494-0823.