Yusef Salaam: This Black History Month, Stand with Me against Racial Bias

02.01.18 By Yusef Salaam

Yusef Salaam wrongly convicted as a teenager in New York City in 1990.

Yusef Salaam wrongly convicted as a teenager in New York City in 1990.

Nearly 30 years ago, Raymond Santana, Korey Wise, Kevin Richardson, Antron McCray and I went from being teenagers with big dreams to becoming the Central Park Five overnight. The press, the city and the whole world instantly believed we were guilty of attacking and nearly killing a white female jogger in Central Park. We never had a chance to prove our innocence.

Despite the horror we endured—we were branded as monsters and rapists, while high-profile New Yorkers called for our execution and we lost a combined 33.5 years of our youth in prison—but we still consider ourselves lucky. We lost years of our lives, but thanks to the DNA evidence proving our innocence, we made it to freedom on the other side. I’m afraid to even think of the thousands of men and women who will never live to see this side.

Related: Remembering Kalief Browder a Year After his Suicide

That’s why today—first day of Black History Month—I’m asking you to stand with me in making a commitment to show up for racial justice this year. Will you sign the Innocence Project’s pledge for racial justice?

Troy Davis, who maintained his innocence until the end in the murder of a police officer, was executed in 2011.

Our case has become an important example of the many systemic failures of the criminal justice system. Working with the Innocence Project and other organizations, we’ve become advocates for essential reforms to prevent future injustice. We’re here to tell our story and fight harder than ever to prevent the pervasiveness of racial bias from instantly deeming black and brown people as guilty, without a chance of proving their innocence.

Black History Month is a chance to speak up even louder for our brothers and sisters who are no longer here to share their truth—Kalief Browder, Ledell Lee, Troy Davis and countless others who never had a fair trial, adequate defense or the chance to access DNA testing that could have proven their innocence.

Related: Ledell Lee: ‘My life on death row is like Twilight Zone’

We can’t sit back and allow one more innocent black person to be punished, or worse, executed for the color of their skin. Will you stand with me in fighting against racial bias in our criminal justice system?

Keep up with Yusef on Twitter.

Ledell Lee executed by Arkansas in 2017 without a chance of testing DNA that could have proven his innocence.

Kalief Browder was wrongly accused of stealing a backpack. After refusing to take a plea deal, he spent three years in Riker’s solitary confinement. He hung himself two years after his release.

 

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Classie Howard June 3, 2019 at 8:06 am Reply   

Yes I support the innocent project and I definitely stand with you brother, I’ve witnessed first hand how corrupt and the injustice of this system my brother has been fighting for over 32years to gain what they they call freedom he was released after 32yrs well I should say out of jail he never pleaded guilty of his charges he always maintained his Innocence, now he headed back to court today Monday da 3rd of June for a retrial to clear his name they still want him say he guilty of murder charges they had nerve to offer him time served or manslaughter, why would he accepted that when he was 18yrs old going into one the worst prison in Massachusetts “walpole” he say no I’m innocent, now at 52 he going say he’s guilty of a crime he never committed they gave him 1yr and 1/2half of his freedom something he should have had 32ys ago now he putting his life on line again this the worst system there is all over the country, if in doubt read his case not one shred of evidence they still convicted him with life without parole Darrell Jones in Massachusetts

Sharon Story May 31, 2019 at 9:34 am Reply   

I need help with my only son who’s also in prison for wrongfully accused of rape if his children’s mother back in California. Could anybody help me anyway to help my son. Here is his information.
Dennis Mayfield #AY4039
Facility C Building 1 Bed 233
P.O. Box 1905
Tehachapi, CA 93581. I will donate after I get some type of support.

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