Yusef Salaam, one of the Exonerated Five aka Central Park Five, Runs for NYC Council
How being wrongfully convicted has turned Salaam into an activist.
Yusef Salaam hits the New York streets hard and running leaving no stone unturned as he seeks voters for his bid for the New York City Council seat. While he attempted to introduce himself, many recognized him straight away. They knew his face, name, and his life story. For the others who did not readily recognize him, once he introduced himself as one of the Central Park Five, one of the Black or brown teenagers between the ages of 14 to 16, wrongly accused, convicted, and imprisoned for the rape and beating of a white woman jogging in Central Park on April 19, 1989, they soon recognized him.
These teenagers, Yusef Salaam, Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise, served between five and 12 years in prison before a reexamination of the case led to their convictions being overturned in 2002. They are now forever known as the “Exonerated Five.” These teenagers were put behind bars without any circumstantial evidence as they became victimized by a system that is designed to suppress BIOPOC.
There was zero evidence, yet these teenagers landed in jail for years or the better part of their young lives. Salaam feels that he is a perfect candidate for this seat because he has experienced the pain of injustice and now deserves a seat at the table to make a difference in the political system. He wants to represent the Harlem District to be decided by the June 27 Democratic primary. He faces two seasoned political veterans.
Now known to some as the “Exonerated Five,” Salaam and the four others — Antron McCray, Kevin Richardson, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise — served between five and 12 years in prison for the 1989 rape before a reexamination of the case led to their convictions being vacated in 2002. Salaam was arrested at age 15 and served almost seven years behind bars. A serial rapist’s DNA was linked to the attack. The Exonerated Five filed a lawsuit against the city and was awarded $41 million. Money cannot buy back his teenage years lost but it can lend itself toward a better tomorrow and winning office to sit in a political seat becoming a catalyst for change.
All African Americans identify with the Central Park 5 Story and now the Exonerated Five Story in the wake of Salaam running for office to be a catalyst for change to help people to climb out of despair often caused by an unjust political system. The Harlem district is plagued by entrenched poverty and the highest rent burdens. According to a study by the New York University’s Furman Center, poverty in Central Harlem is about 10 points higher than the citywide rate of 18%. Harlem’s residents pay half their income in rent and have the highest rates of homelessness for children.
While Salaam may be new to politics but his fighting spirit may be just what the council seat needs along with a new perspective. Every politician begins somewhere and for some cause or issue. While his opponents are seasoned politicians, does not make them more capable but perhaps more qualified because they have the credentials. How many politicians have credentials in Washington yet it is hard to phantom they do?
In conclusion, Harlem used to be called home as I saw how the politics of New York City rendered the rents so high that many Blacks were forced to flee. The system rendered many homeless and jobless. Whichever candidate wins the seat, may that person champion all BIPOC and the laws that hold them in a state of poverty, injustice, and despair.
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