{{Short description|American activist and politician (born 1974)}} {{Use American English|date=July 2023}} {{Use mdy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox officeholder | name = Yusef Salaam | image = Yusef Salaam 2026.jpg | caption = Salaam in 2026 | office = Member of the New York City Council<br>from the 9th district | status = | term_start = January 1, 2024 | term_end = | predecessor = Kristin Richardson Jordan | successor = | birth_date = {{birth year and age|1974}} | birth_place = New York City, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | party = Democratic | spouse = | children = 10 | education = Dutchess Community College<br>Hunter College }} '''Yusef Salaam''' (born 1974) is an American politician, motivational speaker, and activist currently serving as a member of the New York City Council, representing the city's 9th council district since 2024. A member of the Democratic Party, Salaam, one of the Central Park Five, was wrongly convicted of acting in concert to rape a woman in Central Park in 1989. His conviction was vacated in 2002.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Biography |url=https://council.nyc.gov/yusef-salaam/ |access-date=2025-01-22 |website=Yusef Salaam |language=en-US}}</ref>
==Early life== Salaam was born in 1974 in New York City to Sharonne Salaam.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Carrig |first=David |date=2025-07-28 |title=Dr. Yusef Salaam of the 'Exonerated Five' on the power of narrative and his path to justice |url=https://kresge.org/news-views/dr-yusef-salaam-of-the-exonerated-five-on-the-power-of-narrative-and-his-path-to-justice/ |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=Kresge Foundation |language=en-US}}</ref> He was born into a Muslim household and raised by a religious grandmother and mother who emphasized faith and spirituality.<ref name=":0" /> His mother exposed him and his siblings to books about different countries as well as different languages.<ref name=":0" />
===Central Park jogger case and conviction=== {{Main|Central Park jogger case}} On April 19, 1989, Trisha Meili, a woman jogging in Central Park, was assaulted and raped by Matias Reyes.{{efn|In September 2002, Reyes came forward to state that he raped Meili. DNA tests confirmed that semen on the jogger's sock matched Reyes's, although the Central Park Five had already served out their sentence by the time he was convicted.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=132076&page=1 |title=Man Says He was Central Park Rapist |date=September 26, 2002 |publisher=ABC News |access-date=July 10, 2023}}</ref>}} Authorities accused Salaam, Korey Wise, Kevin Richardson, Antron McCray and Raymond Santana of assaulting her; the five teenagers—of Black and Latino race—became known as the "Central Park Five," later the "Exonerated Five." At the time, Salaam was 15. The teenagers confessed to assaulting her, but later claimed the confessions were the result of beatings and threats by police officers. Salaam later claimed that police had deprived the teenagers of "food, drink or sleep" for more than a day. All five were convicted in 1990.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2023/06/28/yusef-salaam-central-park-harlem-council/ |title=A Central Park Five member could soon be a N.Y. councilman. Who is Yusef Salaam? |date=June 28, 2023 |last=Hassan |first=Jennifer |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=July 10, 2023}}</ref> His conviction was upheld by the Appellate Division, and was again upheld in 1993 by the Court of Appeals of the State of New York.<ref>{{cite web | url=https://law.justia.com/cases/new-york/court-of-appeals/1993/83-n-y-2d-51-0.html | title=People v. Salaam }}</ref> He was released from prison in 1997.<ref name="Gothamist-1">{{cite news |last1=Bocanegra |first1=Michelle |date=June 1, 2023 |title=A son of Harlem is now an outsider looking in |url=https://gothamist.com/news/a-son-of-harlem-is-now-an-outsider-looking-in |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230601112442/https://gothamist.com/news/a-son-of-harlem-is-now-an-outsider-looking-in |archive-date=June 1, 2023 |access-date=12 July 2023 |work=Gothamist}}</ref> His conviction was vacated in 2002 and in 2014 New York City paid $41 million to settle a civil rights lawsuit brought by the Central Park Five.<ref name="NYT-1">{{Cite web |last=Ransom |first=Jan |date=June 18, 2019 |title=Trump Will Not Apologize for Calling for Death Penalty Over Central Park Five |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/18/nyregion/central-park-five-trump.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190619015914/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/18/nyregion/central-park-five-trump.html |archive-date=June 19, 2019 |access-date=July 10, 2023 |work=The New York Times}}</ref><ref name="Schanberg">{{cite news |first=Sydney |last=Schanberg |author-link=Sydney Schanberg|title=A Journey Through the Tangled Case of the Central Park Jogger |url=https://www.villagevoice.com/a-journey-through-the-tangled-case-of-the-central-park-jogger/|work=The Village Voice |date=November 26, 2002 |access-date=September 1, 2025|archive-date=May 22, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250522093603/https://www.villagevoice.com/a-journey-through-the-tangled-case-of-the-central-park-jogger/|url-status=live}}</ref>
=== Faith during imprisonment === While imprisoned, Salaam deepened his connection to Islam, later stating that his faith helped him endure his sentence and shaped his outlook on justice.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=Yusef Salaam - “I was closest to God in prison.” {{!}} DoubleTake Special |url=https://yaqeeninstitute.org/watch/series/yusef-salaam-i-was-closest-to-god-in-prison-doubletake-special |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research |language=en}}</ref> In an interview with Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research, He states the Quran was his way understanding why he was imprisoned after being falsely accused, understanding the Quran as the manual of life.<ref name=":0" /> In this interview he also said when he was imprisoned he would look at parallels between himself and the Quran, like the story of Prophet Yusuf (as) in the Quran.<ref name=":0" /> Salaam's grandmother would send him letters to ensure that he remembered that there were people who loved him.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2021-05-18 |title=One Of The Falsely Accused Central Park Five Tells His Story In 'Better, Not Bitter' |url=https://www.gpb.org/news/2021/05/18/one-of-the-falsely-accused-central-park-five-tells-his-story-in-better-not-bitter |access-date=2025-10-23 |website=Georgia Public Broadcasting |language=en}}</ref>
During the interview with Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research, Yusef Salaam said he got closer to Allah when he was in prison.<ref name="NYT-1" /> Salaam served as the imam of the youth facility for five years. After being transferred to an adult facility, he served as the Qadi (religious judge) of the Muslim community for about a year and a half, and later as the Naib (assistant or deputy leader) before his release.<ref name=":0" />
== Career == thumb|Salaam speaking at a 2009 rally. Following his release in 1997, Salaam worked as a construction worker in an apartment complex in the Mitchell–Lama Housing Program on Adam Clayton Powell Jr. Boulevard. He was fired after the company discovered who he was. Salaam then worked at Weill Cornell Medicine.<ref name="NYTimesRevenge">{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/05/nyregion/yusef-salaam-city-council.html |title=For Yusef Salaam, a Landslide Just Might Be the Best Revenge |date=July 5, 2023 |last=Bellafante |first=Ginia |work=The New York Times |access-date=July 10, 2023}}</ref> He has served on the board of the Innocence Project.<ref name="NYT-2">{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/04/06/nyregion/central-park-five-yusef-salaam-trump.html |title=Trump's Arrest Lifts Campaign of Man He Once Condemned |date=April 6, 2023 |last=Mays |first=Jeffery |work=The New York Times |access-date=July 10, 2023}}</ref>
In 2021, Salaam considered running for the New York State Legislature, but decided against it due to residency requirements.<ref name="Gothamist-1" /> Salaam moved back to New York City from Georgia in 2022.<ref name="NYT-2" /> On February 4, 2023, Salaam announced his candidacy for the 9th City Council District of New York City representing Harlem in the 2023 elections.<ref>{{Cite web |date=February 4, 2023 |title=Yusef Salaam, member of Exonerated Five, announces run for New York City Council |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/yusef-salaam-member-of-exonerated-five-to-announce-run-for-new-york-city-council/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230204161714/https://www.cbsnews.com/newyork/news/yusef-salaam-member-of-exonerated-five-to-announce-run-for-new-york-city-council/ |archive-date=February 4, 2023 |access-date=July 10, 2023 |publisher=CBS News}}</ref> During the campaign, he was endorsed by Cornel West.<ref name="APCampaign">{{Cite web |last=Caina Calvan |first=Bobby |date=June 20, 2023 |title=Once wrongly imprisoned for notorious rape, member of 'Central Park Five' is running for office |url=https://apnews.com/article/yusef-salaam-central-park-five-new-york-f04db8cb2bcac33d74b4bc2e1c414bfd |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230621075537/https://apnews.com/article/yusef-salaam-central-park-five-new-york-f04db8cb2bcac33d74b4bc2e1c414bfd |archive-date=June 21, 2023 |access-date=July 10, 2023 |publisher=Associated Press}}</ref> He won the Democratic primary on July 5 defeating assemblymembers Inez Dickens and Al Taylor.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/yusef-salaam-of-central-park-five-case-from-prison-to-new-york-city-council-2828b9f8 |title=Yusef Salaam of 'Central Park Five' Case: From Prison to New York City Council |date=July 8, 2023 |last1=Ailworth |first1=Erin |last2=Vielkind |first2=Jimmy |work=The Wall Street Journal |access-date=July 10, 2023 |url-access=subscription}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=https://nymag.com/intelligencer/2023/07/exonerated-fives-yusef-salaam-claims-victory-in-harlem-race.html |title=Exonerated Member of Central Park Five Officially Wins City Council Race |date=July 5, 2023 |last=Prater |first=Nia |work=Intelligencer |access-date=July 10, 2023}}</ref> He was unopposed in the general election and succeeded councilwoman Kristin Richardson Jordan for a term ending January 1, 2026. He was re-elected in November 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Yusef Salaam |url=https://ballotpedia.org/Yusef_Salaam |access-date=2025-09-03 |website=Ballotpedia |language=en}}</ref>
In January 2024, Salaam's car, which had Georgia license plates and dark-tinted windows that are illegal in New York, was stopped in Harlem by a New York City police car. When the officer approached his car, Salaam said he was a member of the city council and that he was on city business. He was on a business call with several of his colleagues including City Council member Sandy Nurse, who heard the entire police interaction.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Mays |first1=Jeffery C. |last2=Fitzsimmons |first2=Emma G. |date=2024-01-28 |title=The N.Y.P.D. Pulled Over a City Councilman. Now Both Are Under Fire. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/28/nyregion/yusef-salaam-traffic-stop-nyc-policing.html |access-date=2024-02-06 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> He was driving to dinner with his wife and four of his children. Salaam asked why he had been stopped but the officer, on hearing that he was a council member on business, cut off the interaction and walked away saying, "Take care, sir." Officers are not required to give a reason for stopping a car, but Salaam said the police should have done so voluntarily. Critics of Salaam said he smeared the police and used his position to get out of a possible ticket.<ref>{{Cite news |last1=Mays |first1=Jeffery C. |last2=Fitzsimmons |first2=Emma G. |date=2024-01-28 |title=The N.Y.P.D. Pulled Over a City Councilman. Now Both Are Under Fire. |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/01/28/nyregion/yusef-salaam-traffic-stop-nyc-policing.html |access-date=2024-01-30 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref>
In the aftermath of the second 2024 presidential debate, Salaam confronted former president Donald Trump who previously called for Salaam to be executed, but Trump refused to walk back his statements.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2024-09-11 |title=Trump confronted by 'Central Park Five' member in debate spin room |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/trump-debate-central-park-five-yusef-salaam-b2610705.html |access-date=2024-09-12 |website=The Independent |language=en}}</ref>
==Personal life== Salaam is a practicing Muslim. He has ten children, three of whom are stepchildren. In 2016, he received a Lifetime Achievement Award from then-president Barack Obama.<ref name="NYTimesRevenge"/> In 2021, Salaam was awarded the Muhammad Ali Confident Muslim of the Year by the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research. <ref name="NYT-1" />
In film, Salaam is featured in documentarian Ken Burns's film ''The Central Park Five'' (2012).<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/news/2023/07/10/yusef-salaam-central-park-five-headed-to-city-hall-00105405 |title=Central Park Five member's landslide City Council win represents power shift in Harlem |date=July 10, 2023 |last=Chadha |first=Janaki |work=Politico |access-date=July 10, 2023}}</ref> He is portrayed as an adult by Chris Chalk and as a child by Ethan Herisse in filmmaker Ava DuVernay's television miniseries ''When They See Us''.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Petski |first=Denise |date=August 10, 2018 |title='Central Park Five': Chris Chalk, Ethan Herisse Among 6 Male Leads Cast In Ava DuVernay's Netflix Series |url=https://deadline.com/2018/08/central-park-five-chris-chalk-ethan-herisse-male-leads-cast-ava-duvernay-netflix-series-1202443829/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180810235350/https://deadline.com/2018/08/central-park-five-chris-chalk-ethan-herisse-male-leads-cast-ava-duvernay-netflix-series-1202443829/ |archive-date=August 10, 2018 |access-date=July 10, 2023 |work=Deadline Hollywood}}</ref> In 2022, "Gate of the Exonerated" was dedicated at the northern end of Central Park in honor of Salaam and the other members of the Exonerated Five.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://apnews.com/article/new-york-city-df30892750b6beb1019b9de4f46a4607 |title=New York City to honor Central Park Five at park entrance |date=December 12, 2022 |publisher=Associated Press |access-date=July 10, 2023}}</ref> ==Electoral history== {{Election box ranked choice begin |title = New York City's 9th City Council district, 2023 Democratic primary<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vote.nyc/sites/default/files/pdf/election_results/2023/20230627Primary%20Election/rcv/DEM_Council_Member_9th_Council_District.pdf|title= DEM Council Member 9th Council District|access-date=February 7, 2025}}</ref> }} {{Election box ranked choice winning candidate with party link | party = Democratic Party (US) | candidate = Yusef Salaam | maxround=3 | maxvotes=6993 | maxvotespercent=63.8 | r1votes=5705 | fullwidthvotes=11437 }} {{Election box ranked choice candidate with party link | party = Democratic Party (US) | candidate = Inez Dickens | maxround=3 | maxvotes=3962 | maxvotespercent=36.2 | r1votes=2874 | fullwidthvotes=11437 }} {{Election box ranked choice candidate with party link | party = Democratic Party (US) | candidate = Al Taylor | maxround=2 | maxvotes=1685 | maxvotespercent=14.8 | r1votes=1645 | fullwidthvotes=11437 }} {{Election box ranked choice candidate with party link | party = Democratic Party (US) | candidate = Kristin Richardson Jordan (incumbent, withdrawn) | maxround=2 | maxvotes=1108 | maxvotespercent=9.7 | r1votes=1092 | fullwidthvotes=11437 }} {{Election box ranked choice candidate with party link | party = Write-in | candidate = | maxround=1 | maxvotes=121 | maxvotespercent=1.1 | r1votes=121 | fullwidthvotes=11437 }} {{Election box ranked choice end}}
==Selected works== *{{Cite book |last=Salaam |first=Yusef |date=2021 |title=Better, Not Bitter: Living on Purpose in the Pursuit of Racial Justice |location=New York City |publisher=Grand Central Publishing |isbn=9781538704981}} *{{Cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/posteverything/wp/2016/10/12/im-one-of-the-central-park-five-donald-trump-wont-leave-me-alone/ |title=I'm one of the Central Park Five. Donald Trump won't leave me alone. |date=October 12, 2016 |last=Salaam |first=Yusef |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=July 10, 2023}} ==Notes== {{notelist}} ==References== {{Reflist}}
==Further reading== *{{Cite web |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2023/07/09/nyregion/yusef-salaam-nyc-crime-politics.html |title=From Cell to City Hall: Candidate's Win Shows Shift in Politics of Crime |date=July 9, 2023 |last=Kilgannon |first=Corey |work=The New York Times |access-date=July 10, 2023}} *{{Cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/05/18/997792060/in-better-not-bitter-one-of-the-central-park-five-tells-his-own-story |title=One Of The Falsely Accused Central Park Five Tells His Story In 'Better, Not Bitter' |date=May 18, 2021 |last=Taylor |first=Ericka |publisher=NPR |access-date=July 10, 2023}} *{{Cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2021/05/26/1000454798/central-park-exonerated-5-member-reflects-on-freedom-and-forgiveness |title=Central Park 'Exonerated 5' Member Reflects On Freedom And Forgiveness |date=May 26, 2021 |last=Davies |first=Dave |work=Fresh Air |publisher=NPR |access-date=July 10, 2023}}
==External links== {{Commons}} * {{Official website}} * {{IMDb name}} *{{C-SPAN|72909}}
{{New York City Council}} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Salaam, Yusef}} Category:1974 births Category:21st-century African-American politicians Category:21st-century African-American writers Category:21st-century American poets Category:Activists from New York City Category:African-American activists Category:African-American Muslims Category:African-American people in New York City politics Category:African-American New York City Council members Category:African-American poets Category:American motivational speakers Category:American Muslim activists Category:Living people Category:Muslim poets Category:New York (state) Democrats Category:Poets from New York (state) Category:Writers from the Bronx Category:Muslims from New York (state) Category:Prisoners and detainees of New York (state)