Error -8003 when trying to empty trash

I get this error code when trying to empty the trash, and the trash won't empty.
What does it mean and how do I get the trash to empty?
thanks

The most common cause for this problem is deleting stuff from a Time Machine backup using the Finder. This pretty irrevocably destroys your backup in addition to clogging the trash with files that are difficult to delete. If this is what you have done, your easiest and most reliable course of action will be to erase your backup drive using Disk Utility and start a brand new backup. And then never touch your backup in the Finder ever again.
If that isn't what happened, let us know.

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