REMARKS
Contentious Moment Between Christopher Leon Johnson and Council Member Yusef Salaam
2:32:09
ยท
3 min
A contentious debate unfolds between Christopher Leon Johnson and Council Member Yusef Salaam during a hearing focused on wrongful convictions. Johnson accuses Salaam of censoring Jewish voices and misrepresenting events, leading to repeated calls for Salaam's resignation. Salaam clarifies the hearing's purpose, addressing wrongful convictions and his personal experience but Johnson continues with accusations. Amidst continuous interruptions and denials, Salaam attempts to steer the conversation back to the topic of wrongful convictions without personal attacks.
Christopher Leon Johnson
2:32:09
My name is Christopher Leon Johnson, and mister chair Salam, you should be exchanging yourself for trying to censor all the Jewish people for making the agreements about the the the war in Palestine, which we need a we need a ceasefire, and we have to support Israel We have to support Zionism.
2:32:27
So shame on you as the chair of the public safety committee for censoring the Jewish voices in this panel here hearing while get wait.
Andrew Botelho
2:32:34
Wait.
Christopher Leon Johnson
2:32:35
The record.
2:32:35
I know.
Yusef Salaam
2:32:36
I wanna say that I'm not censoring our Jewish brothers or sisters.
2:32:41
I actually I actually recognize them.
2:32:45
Shalamo Lakeam, and I thank you for your testimony.
2:32:47
Wait.
2:32:47
The only thing that I'm saying is that this hearing right now, this hearing in particular, is about wrongful convictions.
2:32:55
I was wrongfully convicted.
2:32:56
So we're talking about wrongful convictions and the NYPD and the process and the practices that lead to wrongful convictions.
Christopher Leon Johnson
2:33:04
Yeah.
2:33:04
Well yeah.
2:33:04
That's I'm saying about that, but why you get the other guy who's saying something.
2:33:08
So that's that's a different date.
2:33:09
Some nonsense about being attacked by cops.
2:33:11
That's whatever.
2:33:11
But you need to to let your Jewish people speak.
2:33:14
Okay?
2:33:15
Now going to this about you, Mister or Mister Salam, you know, it was sad that you lied on that cop.
2:33:22
You know, you you say you got lied on and you did time in your prison before a crime you did a commit.
2:33:27
Now, you lied on to Compton Harlem saying that he said ABCD, which wasn't true.
2:33:33
And you told everybody will talk about the eighties.
2:33:36
Now, what happened if in the eighties, you you did that state they used a council member, and you leveraged your rank, and you did that.
2:33:41
I'm a councilman, and you leveraged your rank, and that cup got arrested for for doing it.
2:33:46
Yeah.
2:33:46
You you lied on the guy.
2:33:47
You could have gotten arrested for that and he could duck and victory for that lie.
2:33:51
Now my question is, why why you did that?
2:33:54
Why you allowed the cops to try to push to push stupid agenda called Hami Stopsack.
2:33:58
And and you said that the Hami Stopsack would've Hami Stopsack would've would've save your save your butt from being a Ralphie a so called, Ralphie convicted of your crime.
2:34:08
That's ridiculous.
2:34:09
It's bull crap.
2:34:10
Bro.
Yusef Salaam
2:34:10
You know, I don't appreciate being personally attacked.
2:34:13
But thank you.
Joann Ariola
2:34:14
No.
2:34:14
No.
2:34:14
No.
2:34:14
No.
Christopher Leon Johnson
2:34:15
No.
2:34:15
No.
2:34:16
No.
2:34:16
No.
2:34:17
No.
Yusef Salaam
2:34:18
No.
Vickie Paladino
2:34:18
No.
Christopher Leon Johnson
2:34:18
No.
2:34:18
Took a lot of time to speak, bro.
2:34:20
Wait.
2:34:20
You gave him a lot of time to speak.
2:34:22
I'm gonna say this one more time.
2:34:23
Wait.
2:34:23
Wait.
Yusef Salaam
2:34:23
Before I go, it's only
Christopher Leon Johnson
2:34:24
You need to resign as chair.
2:34:25
You need to resign as chair of the state the public state committee.
2:34:28
You need to resign, bro.
2:34:30
You need to resign as chair.
2:34:31
You need to give it to Camilla Hanks.
2:34:33
I don't
Yusef Salaam
2:34:33
I don't appreciate the person on the test list.
2:34:35
Thank you so much for your time.
2:34:36
Thank you for your test test, man.
Christopher Leon Johnson
2:34:37
You gave me no time, sweetie.
2:34:38
Why?
2:34:38
You can't give me
Yusef Salaam
2:34:39
the time?
2:34:39
What you're seeing, and I just wanna say this for you.
2:34:41
To understand.
2:34:42
Yeah.
2:34:43
There is something called Beniso, Jeriso, Bolososo,
Christopher Leon Johnson
2:34:48
What the hell is that?
Yusef Salaam
2:34:49
It means that when you see something like I'm looking at you
Christopher Leon Johnson
2:34:52
Yeah.
Yusef Salaam
2:34:52
And obviously, anyone would look at you and say, this is a black man.
Christopher Leon Johnson
2:34:57
Yeah.
2:34:57
You're black metal.
Yusef Salaam
2:34:59
What I'm saying to you is, we're talking about wrongful convictions and the NYPD.
2:35:05
And I appreciate the fact that you also represent the Jewish faith.
Christopher Leon Johnson
2:35:08
I don't remember.
2:35:08
I'm not a Jewish guy, but Well,
Yusef Salaam
2:35:09
I'm just
Christopher Leon Johnson
2:35:10
I support the Jewish people.
Yusef Salaam
2:35:11
So Okay.
2:35:11
And I appreciate you.
Christopher Leon Johnson
2:35:13
I mean, what
Yusef Salaam
2:35:13
I'm saying to you is that I'm looking at you Yeah.
2:35:16
From your front.
Vickie Paladino
2:35:17
Mhmm.
2:35:18
I
Yusef Salaam
2:35:18
haven't looked at the side or the top or the bottom to understand more about what you're saying.
2:35:23
You are talking about something that you saw from the front.
2:35:27
You weren't there to see all of the other sides, nor did I provide testimony to that particular end.
2:35:35
So while I appreciate what you're saying, I do not respect or condone you specifically trying to threaten me
Christopher Leon Johnson
2:35:42
I never threatened you.
Yusef Salaam
2:35:43
Wow.
2:35:43
We're talking about wrongful conviction.
Christopher Leon Johnson
2:35:45
I never threatened you, man.
2:35:46
Like, you're So you're lying to us.
2:35:48
Lying to me.
2:35:49
You're this is the that's what I need to resign is sharing.
2:35:53
You lied on that cop and holler.
Yusef Salaam
2:35:54
Sergeant Osterholm.
Christopher Leon Johnson
2:35:54
No.
2:35:55
You lied on me on this camera.
2:35:56
That's what I need to resign.