FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Silent Voices United Inc.
Email: [email protected]| Phone: (646) 645-9110
Date: Thursday, October 23, 2025
Location: In front of the Adam Clayton Powell Jr. State Office Building, 163 West 125th Street, New York, NY 10027
Time: 10:00 A.M.

PRESS CONFERENCE: HARLEM DEMANDS ACCOUNTABILITY AND INTEGRITY FROM COUNCILMAN YUSEF SALAAM’S OFFICE

HARLEM, NY, October 22, 2025 — Silent Voices United Inc., a long-standing Harlem-based 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, will hold a press conference on Thursday, October 23 at 10:00 A.M. to address misconduct, retaliation, and the growing disconnect between Harlem’s elected leadership and the very community that put them in office.

For years, Silent Voices United has served Harlem’s youth, seniors, and families out of pocket—long before any city or state funding. Yet today, the organization and others like it face retaliation and defunding by the Office of Councilman Yusef Salaam, under the hostile and unprofessional conduct of his Chief of Staff, Wilma Brown. Reports of bullying, retaliation, staff resignations, misuse of discretionary funds, and internal targeting of whistleblowers have surfaced, with no meaningful support from the Association of Legislative Employees (ALE)—America’s largest legislative staff union.

“This is bigger than Silent Voices United—it’s about the future of Harlem,” said Tiffany Fulton, Founder and Executive Director of Silent Voices United Inc. “We will not be silent while our leaders play politics with people’s lives. Harlem deserves representation that uplifts, not retaliates.”

The press conference will expose the patterns of corruption and abuse within the Councilman’s office, where discretionary funds are being funneled to organizations with staff members sitting on their own boards, violating ethical standards and community trust. Harlem residents are demanding transparency, accountability, and a return to people-centered governance.

Key Issues Highlighted:

· Misuse and inequitable distribution of discretionary funds

· Retaliation against grassroots organizations serving Harlem’s most vulnerable

· Intimidation, staff turnover, and lack of accountability within the Councilman’s office

· Failure of ALE to protect whistleblowers and staff facing retaliation

· Councilman Yusef Salaam’s failure to deliver on campaign promises and to stay connected with Harlem’s real issues—particularly youth, housing, and safety

Guest Speakers:

· Hawk Newsome and Chivonna Newsome, Co-Founders of BLM Greater New York — an action coalition that builds and empowers Black communities across Greater New York (no affiliation with the original BLM).

· Donald Curtis, Executive Director of The Unified Black Caucus, is uniting leaders and residents in the fight for social justice and ethical leadership.

This is not merely about one office—it’s about restoring the soul of Harlem politics. If Councilman Yusef Salaam cannot control his office or represent his people, he must step down. Harlem deserves better.

Silent Voices United Inc.
A 501(c)(3) tax-exempt nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering youth, families, and communities through advocacy, education, and action.