Yusef Salaam and
Raymond Santana will be the guest speakers February 18 at the Grand Theatre for
Salt Lake Community College’s 2020 Martin Luther King, Jr. Commemorative Keynote.
The event, at 7 p.m., is free and open to the public, but tickets will be
required and can be obtained by clicking here.
The Grand is located on SLCC’s South City Campus, 1575 S. State Street in Salt
Lake City.
On the night of
April 19, 1989, a young woman was brutally attacked and raped in Central Park.
When she recovered, she had no memory of the assault. Five boys, including
Raymond Santana and Yusef Salaam, were tried and convicted of the crime in a
frenzied case that rocked the city. At the time, the defendants were between 14
and 16 years of age. They became known collectively as “The Central Park Five.”
On December 19,
2002, the convictions of the five men were overturned. The unidentified DNA in
the Central Park Jogger Case – unlinked to any of the five – had finally met
its owner, a convicted murderer and serial rapist who confessed. The
convictions of the boys, now men, were overturned and they were exonerated.
Since their
release, Raymond and Yusef have committed themselves to advocating and
educating people on the issues of false confessions, police brutality and
misconduct, press ethics and bias, race and law, and the disparities in
America’s criminal justice system.
Please note that
in the event of a sell-out, the Grand Theatre still anticipates having plenty
of seating available. The Theatre will have a first-come, first-served standby
line, and most attendees, if not all, will be admitted. Please arrive by 6:40
to ensure you get a seat.
Doors open 60 minutes prior to start time. Children & babes in arms welcome.
Doors open 60 minutes prior to start time. Children & babes in arms welcome.