Yusef Salaam’s Unprecedented Journey from Wrongful Conviction to Elected Official is a Reminder of the Power of Justice and Perseverance.

Yusef Salaam, an exonerated member of the Central Park Five, has won a seat on the New York City Council in a stunning reversal of fortune. Salaam was wrongfully convicted in 1989 of the rape and beating of a white jogger in Central Park.

More than two decades later, DNA evidence was used to overturn the convictions of Salaam and four other Black and Latino men. On Tuesday, Salaam ran unopposed for a seat in a central Harlem district, completing his journey from wrongful conviction to elected official.

Salaam’s victory is a powerful example of resilience and determination. After his exoneration, Salaam became an advocate for criminal justice reform and a motivational speaker. He also wrote a memoir, “Life After Truth,” which was published in 2018.

In a statement, Salaam said he was “humbled and honored” to be elected to the City Council. He said he was “grateful for the opportunity to serve the people of Harlem and to be a voice for the voiceless.”

Salaam’s election is a reminder of the power of the justice system to right wrongs. It is also a testament to the strength of the human spirit and the power of perseverance.