Dr. Yusef Salaam Celebrates Puerto Rican Pride at NYC Parade
At just fifteen years old, Dr. Yusef Salaam was tried and convicted in the infamous "Central Park Jogger" case alongside four other Black and Latino teens. The Exonerated Five spent between seven to thirteen years behind bars for crimes they did not commit—a story that still shakes our community to its core.
Fast forward to 2025, Dr. Salaam is not only a free man but a powerful force for change. After years of advocacy, education, and community engagement, he won a landslide victory to represent Central Harlem on the New York City Council. His platform centers on dismantling the systemic injustices that led to his wrongful incarceration—specifically the deep-rooted issues of mass incarceration and police brutality that plague our justice system.
I had the pleasure of speaking briefly with Dr. Salaam during the 2024 Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City. As he walked proudly alongside fellow New Yorkers, his excitement to celebrate Puerto Rican pride was palpable. Growing up on 110th Street, right next to "El Barrio," Dr. Salaam spoke with heartfelt appreciation about the bond between Black and Brown communities.
His presence at the parade wasn't just symbolic—it was historic. A man once wrongfully silenced is now amplifying the voices of the marginalized. Dr. Salaam is living proof of the transformation that can rise from injustice. He is, without question, our ancestors’ wildest dreams.
Watch the interview :