Yusef Salaam is an American public figure known for his advocacy and his experience as a formerly incarcerated Black man who was exonerated after a wrongful conviction in the Central Park jogger case. Born and raised in Manhattan, he is a Muslim of African American heritage. In 1989, at age 15, he was convicted of assault and other charges related to the attack on a female jogger in Central Park, later vacated in 2002 when another man confessed and DNA evidence matched. Salaam has since become a prominent voice on criminal justice reform, race, and due process, serving on organizations and advising on policy. This article explains his background, case details, and ongoing public role with sourced facts.
