Eureka College today hosted a member of the “Central Park Five” as part of an in-depth discussion on unconscious bias and systemic racism.
Yusef Salaam appeared at the college as part of a panel and to deliver the keynote address at the event. Salaam was one of five teenagers convicted in 1989 of beating and raping a jogger in New York City’s Central Park. The young men spent years in prison before another confession and DNA evidence led to their convictions being vacated.
It was another 10-plus years before the lawsuit filed on behalf of the Central Park Five was settled. In 2002 the Five received a $40 million settlement from the city, with Salaam's share being $7.1 million. The City of New York admitted no wrongdoing. Even as a millionaire, Salaam shows on social media that he continues to encounter racism in his everyday life.
Since his release from prison, Salaam has dedicated himself to education on false confessions, police brutality and misconduct and the disparities of the criminal justice system in the United States.
Salaam appeared in The Central Park Five, a 2012 documentary directed by filmmaker Ken Burns, his daughter Sarah, and her husband, David McMahon. The documentary examines the case with a combination of footage and information available at the time of the crime and trials and interviews with the "Central Park Five" following their release. The film is available for viewing on Netflix.
The discussion panel also included former St. Louis Police Chief Daniel Isom, Peoria community service officer Daniel Duncan, and Eureka College professors Junius Rodriguez (history) and William Lally (criminal justice). Isom was appointed St. Louis' 33rd Chief of Police on October 6, 2008, and was St. Louis' third African-American police chief.