REMARKS
Council Member Yusef Salaam Discusses the Lasting Impact of Laws from the Central Park Jogger Case
0:58:06
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64 sec
Council Member Yusef Salaam discusses the profound impact of the Central Park Jogger case on juvenile law in New York and across the United States. He highlights how this case led to legislative changes that resulted in juveniles being adjudicated as adults at younger ages. Despite ongoing efforts to address these issues, Salaam points out that many laws created in the aftermath have yet to be amended. He emphasizes the swift injustice faced by the accused, contrasted with the slow process of seeking redress and rectification.
Yusef Salaam
0:58:06
Well, you know, just as a as a in for for this particular part for me, Worst part about our story, worst part about the case itself was that many of the laws that related to juveniles in New York and also throughout the nation were changed.
0:58:25
Because of the Central Park Jogger case, they said, look, These are the poster child of deviance.
0:58:30
These individuals right here represent where we are in America, and therefore we need to change the laws.
0:58:38
So that we can adjudicate these individuals as adults at lower ages.
0:58:42
And I know a lot of that stuff is changing, but much of the laws that were created as it relates to what happened with us never never were changed.
0:58:54
There's a lot of efforts that we're trying to fix that now.
0:58:59
And the worst part is that And I don't wanna sound cliche, but, you know, there was a a speedy method that that convicted us.
0:59:06
A speedy method that sent us to prison.
0:59:07
There was no speedy method that made us whole.