On November 16th, Riverdale held its annual Jolli Humanitarian assembly to honor Dr. Yusef Salaam, who was nominated as this year’s Jolli Humanitarian. Yusef appeared on a discussion panel alongside his brother Shareef, a Riverdale alumni, and his mother Sharonne. The discussion was moderated by Harry Gallen, 23’ (me).
Back in March, I nominated Dr. Yusef Salaam for Riverdale’s Jolli Humanitarian Award because of his dedication to social justice and reform. Yusef has shared from his personal experience to highlight and identify the many problems within the Prison Industrial Complex. The issue of prison reform in America has long been ignored. It is due to the consistent efforts of people like Yusef that it has become a part of the national conversation.
In the spring of 1989, 15-year-old Yusef along with Kevin Richardson, Antron McCray, Raymond Santana, and Korey Wise were wrongfully coerced into confessing to the rape and attempted murder of a woman in Central Park. As a result of significant racial prejudice, Yusef spent 6 years and 8 months in prison for a crime he did not commit.
Upon his exoneration, Yusef’s story gained traction in the news and media. He used his newfound platform to speak out against racism and other deeply rooted flaws within the Prison Industrial Complex. In 2012, he appeared in the documentary “The Central Park Five,” and in 2019 he appeared in the mini-series “When They See Us.” Yusef thus used his experience for the greater good, even reliving the trauma he endured in an effort to make sure that nobody else would have a similar experience. Yusef is making the world a better place by providing a voice for those in prison and jail, who historically have not had representation. Yusef speaks across the country about police reform, prison reform, and the importance of holding law enforcement accountable. Additionally, he works closely with The Innocence Project and The Marshall Project, both of which help to combat injustice within the Prison Industrial Complex. He even published a book of poems that he wrote while in prison that talk about his experience, “Punching the Air,” effectively turning his experience into activism and art. In recognition of his activism, Yusef was a recipient of the President’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2016.
After the assembly, Yusef spoke about ways in which Riverdale students can get involved in Criminal Justice reform. He talked about how important it is that students educate themselves about the modern day failings of the Prison Industrial Complex. Without an understanding of the issue, it’s impossible to combat it. The first step of making change is to educate ourselves. As a community, it’s important that we include criminal justice reform into our learning and conversations. If students wish to learn more about Yusef’s experience and ways in which they can take action, they should consider joining Riverdale’s Criminal Justice Reform club, EPIC (End the Prison Industrial Complex). EPIC seeks to raise awareness about and take action against the various injustices committed by the American Criminal Justice System.
