Exonerated Five Member Yusef Salaam Running For New York State Senate

Exonerated Five Member Yusef Salaam Running For New York State Senate

As a Senate seat prepares to be vacated, Yusef Salaam is ready to step up to the position!

Over the weekend, various outlets reported that Yusef Salaam is running for New York State Senate. Yusef Salaam, 47, is notably a member of the Exonerated Five, formerly referred to as the Central Park Five.

Back in 1989, a white woman was raped while out jogging in Central Park. In the aftermath of the incident, five Black and Latino teenagers–Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, Korey Wise, Kevin Richardson, and Antron McCray–were accused and found guilty of the crime. However, their convictions were overturned in 2002 after the true assailant–Matias Reyes–was identified. The group has since been referred to as the Central Park Five and, later, the Exonerated Five. They ultimately received a $41 million settlement from New York City in 2014 for the miscarriage of justice.

Yusef Salaam, Raymond Santana, Kharey Wise, Anton McCray, and Kevin Richardson

Now, one of the Exonerated Five is running for Senate. Specifically, Yusef Salaam is looking to represent Harlem, East Harlem, and Manhattan’s Upper West Side. The area–New York‘s 30th State Senate district–is currently represented by Brian Benjamin, and he is vacating the seat tomorrow (Tuesday, Sept. 7th).

On top of Yusef Salaam, New York State Assembly members Al Taylor and Inez Dickens are also expected to run for New York’s 30th State Senate district.

What do you think about Yusef Salaam running for New York State Senate? Comment down below to let us know!

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