Harlem Councilman Yusef Salaam, ‘Central Park Five,’ Speak At DNC

HARLEM, NY – In 1989, 15-year-old Yusef Salaam – along with 4 other black and brown teenagers, “the Central Park Five” – were arrested and charged with the brutal rape of a woman in Central Park, a crime they did not commit.

The Five would be convicted and incarcerated, and served years in prison before their eventual exoneration in 2002.

On Thursday night, Salaam, who now represents City Council District 9 – Harlem – spoke at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.

“I want you to walk with us, I want you to march with us, I want you to vote with us, and together…on November 5th, we will usher Kamala Harris and Tim Walz into the White House,” Salaam said, flanked by Reverend Al Sharpton and four members of the “Exonerated Five,” as the Central Park Five now prefer to be known.

‘He Has Never Changed, And He Never Will’

Councilman Salaam had a few things to say about former President Donald Trump, who is running for president for the third time.

Following the 1989 attack in Central Park, which shocked the city, Trump ran newspaper ads that read “Bring Back The Death Penalty” in bold letters.

“45 wanted us un-alive,” Salaam said, in reference to Trump, America’s 45th president. “He wanted us dead. Today we are exonerated because the actual perpetrator confessed, and DNA proved it,” Salaam said.

In 2002, a serial rapist, Matias Reyes, confessed that he – alone – had committed the crime for which the Central Park Five had been convicted.

“[Trump] says he still stands by the original guilty verdict. He dismisses the scientific evidence rather than admit he was wrong,” Salaam continued.

Trump has yet to apologize for his comments.

“He has never changed, and he never will,” Salaam said. “That man thinks that hate is the animating force in America. It is not.”

'Free At Last'

For Salaam, a Harris victory in November would mark the conclusion of one chapter in American politics.

“America will finally say goodbye to that hateful man,” he said. “We will say what I have said after 7 long years of wrongful incarceration: ‘free at last, free at last, thank God Almighty we are free at last.’”

See Korey Wise and Councilman Salaam speak below.