On Wednesday Jan. 21, Salaam spoke at the annual Malcolm X Michigan State University Muslim Studies Community Forum about his 2021 book "Better, Not Bitter," which tells his story and how his Muslim faith helped him through his life. 

For the past five years, the Muslim Studies Department has hosted the Malcolm X Community Forum in January to mark the anniversary of Malcolm X speaking to MSU students in 1963. Director of the Muslim Studies program, Mohammad Hassan Khalil, introduced Salaam. 

"It’s a story of a criminal system of injustice," Salaam said to the 150-person crowd at Erickson Hall. 

Since 2023, Salaam has served on New York City’s City Council. He was reelected in 2025 and was sworn in earlier this month. 

The five boys, including Salaam, were found guilty of the attack in 1990. It wasn’t until 2002 that the jogging case would be overturned after a confession and DNA evidence connecting another convicted rapist to the attack was uncovered. Salaam spent over 6 years in prison. 

On the night of the attack, Salaam was brought in for questioning without lawyers or parents present after playing with his friends in New York City’s Central Park. Salaam recalled how he was not given anything to eat or drink, "I didn’t know that was a tactic to wear you down," Salaam said. 

"They would come into the room and ask me about a jogger I had no idea about; they would ask me to tell my story over and over again," Salaam said. 

Salaam explained how one of his friends, Korey Wise, gave multiple false confessions, none of which matched. The boys were led to believe a confession would allow them to be released from interrogation sooner. 

In 1989, President Donald Trump took out full page ads in several prominent newspapers calling to "bring back the death penalty" in relation to the case. Holding up the ad, Salaam said, "This right here is a whisper to the darkest enclaves of society."

In 2014, New York City agreed to a $41 million settlement with the five men.

For the past 5 years, the Muslim Studies Department has hosted speakers to talk about those who have supported Malcom X’s legacy. After growing up in Lansing, Malcom X spoke to MSU students about racial tensions, the Black Muslim religion and its ideas, according to MSU's files of the speech.

Salaam spoke to students, faculty and community members in the same room in Erickson Hall as Malcom X spoke.

Salaam recounted what his mother told him during the time he was being interviewed by law enforcement — words that echoed throughout his mind, even after he was vindicated from the crime. "They need you to participate in whatever it is they are trying to do. Do not participate. Refuse."