Yusef Salaam of the Exonerated Five takes lead in New York City Council Primary

By: Adonis Armstrong

In a closely contested primary race yesterday June 27th, Yusef Salaam emerged as one of the top three candidates, securing a leading position with 5,403 votes, as reported by the New York Post. Despite the official results still pending, Salaam took the opportunity to address his supporters and express his gratitude. “Harlem has spoken,” the politician shared.

The Associated Press reports that following his win, Salaam, is projected to secure a future victory in the general election, as the district is considered unlikely to vote for a Republican candidate. “What has happened in this campaign has restored my faith in knowing that I was born for this,” he stated in a speech yesterday June 27th.

While delivering his speech, Salaam openly shared his personal journey to politics as a member of the Exonerated Five. “Having to be kidnapped from my home as a 15-year-old child, to be lodged in the belly of the beast… I am my ancestor’s wildest dreams. I was gifted because I was able to see it for what it really was, a system that was trying to make me believe that I was my ancestor’s worst nightmare,” he also added, , “I am here because Harlem, you believed in me.”

While the three candidates shared a common focus on advocating for affordable housing, addressing gentrification, and alleviating poverty in Harlem, Salaam leveraged his celebrity status and connected with communities that view the Central Park Five, or better known as the Exonerated Five, as powerful symbols of the injustices experienced by the district's predominantly Black and Latino residents, who constitute around three-fourths of the population.

The race winner has not been announced by The Associated Press, and the final outcome of the election may take days to determine due to New York's ranked choice voting rules, which come into effect when no candidate secures more than 50% of the total vote. It remains uncertain whether Salaam will maintain his position above the required threshold, as of early Wednesday, with approximately 95% of the votes counted, Salaam had a slightly less than 51% of the vote, while Dickens was significantly behind in second place.

I’m rooting for you Mr. Salaam what’s yours will be yours.

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