Join  Harvard College Project for Justice and The Harvard Foundation for Intercultural and Race Relations for a screening of Ava DuVernay's groundbreaking mini series, "When They See Us" followed by a discussion with Dr. Yusef Salaam, a leading advocate for criminal justice reform and a member of the Exonerated 5. Dinner will be provided.

Background: 

In 1989 a jogger was assaulted and raped in New York's Central Park, and five young people were subsequently charged with the crime. The quintet, labeled the Central Park Five, maintained its innocence and spent years fighting the convictions, hoping to be exonerated. One of those boys, Yusef Salaam, was just 15-years-old when his life was upended and changed forever. "When They See Us" spans a quarter of a century, from when the teens are first questioned about the incident in the spring of 1989, going through their exoneration in 2002 and ultimately the settlement reached with the city of New York in 2014.

Determined to educate the public, Yusef eagerly shares his story with others. In speaking out against injustice, he conveys the importance of continuing one’s education—whether formal or otherwise. He also touches on the effects of incarceration and the disenfranchisement of economically disadvantaged people and its devastating impact on both their families and the community at large. Yusef also advocates for drastic policy changes relating to the prison industrial complex.

Details:

October 22, 2019 | 6:00pm - 8:30pm

Harvard Commons at the Smith Campus Center