Black liberation activist Assata Shakur dies at 78, having spent 45 years as a fugitive in Cuba. Assata Shakur is a prominent figure in the black liberation movement and an American fugitive. Formerly known as Joan Chesimard, has died in Havana, Cuba, at the age of 78. The Cuban Foreign Ministry announced Friday that Shakur died on Thursday. Due to advanced age and health problems, Shakur rose to prominence after being convicted of murdering a police officer on the New Jersey Turnpike in 1973 and later escaping prison and seeking refuge in Cuba. Her death has brought her controversial life and legacy back into the spotlight
Assata Shakur’s Early Life and Activism
Assata Shakur was born Joan Deborah Byrne on July 16, 1947, in Queens, New York. In her autobiography, she describes the hardships of her childhood, which included facing social and economic challenges. As a young woman, she became drawn to political activism while attending Borough of Manhattan Community College and City College of New York. During this time, she joined the black panther party and later the Black Liberation Army (BLA), Revolutionary organizations that fought for the rights of the black community in the 1960s and 1970s
At the age of 21, she married Louis Chesimard, but the marriage lasted only a year. Her activism made her an outspoken activist against racism and police violence, which brought her under the scrutiny of law enforcement agencies.
New Jersey Turnpike Shooting and Conviction
In 1973, a shooting on the New Jersey Turnpike forever changed Shakur’s life. In the incident, New Jersey State Trooper James Harper stopped Shakur and two companions, James Coston and the driver, for a traffic violation. During the investigation, another police officer, State Trooper Werner Foster, found a loaded gun near the driver. Foster died in the ensuing gunfight, and Coston was also killed. Harper claimed he saw Shakur shoot Foster, although Shakur has always denied this allegation.
After the shooting, Shakur and his companions drove for five miles. Police eventually caught up with them, and Shakur was arrested. The driver was caught two days later. In 1977, Shakur was sentenced to life imprisonment for Foster’s murder. His supporters believed he was racially targeted and convicted in an “unfair trial.” Shakur claimed she was shot and tortured by police, which she detailed in her autobiography and interviews.
Prison Escape and Asylum in Cuba
On November 2, 1979, Shakur escaped from Clinton Women’s Correctional Facility in New Jersey with the help of members of the Black Liberation Army. After living underground for a few years, she arrived in Cuba in 1984, where then-leader Fidel Castro granted her political asylum. While in Cuba, Shakur published her autobiography, Assata: An Autobiography, in 1987, describing her life, activism, and legal battles.
Cuba repeatedly refused to extradite Shakur to the United States, making her a major issue in diplomatic negotiations between the two countries. In 2015, when President Barack Obama restored diplomatic relations with Cuba, then-New Jersey Governor Chris Christie sought Shakur’s extradition. However, Cuba did not accept this request.
FBI’s Most Wanted List and Reward
In 2013, Shakur was added to the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists list, making her the first woman to be included on the list. A $2 million reward was offered for her arrest. This move sparked a heated debate between her supporters and critics. Supporters believed it was an attempt to suppress her political activism, while critics considered her a dangerous criminal.
Shakur’s Legacy and Controversy
Assata Shakur’s death has stirred emotions among both her supporters and critics. For her supporters, she was a symbol against racism and oppression, unjustly targeted. Her daughter, Kakuya Shakur, expressed deep sorrow over her mother’s passing in a Facebook post and expressed gratitude for the prayers of supporters.
On the other hand, the family of State Trooper Werner Foerster said that Shakur’s death brought them no joy, but that it was the end of a tragedy that deeply affected their family. She said, “Werner’s absence is felt in every moment of our lives. The pain of his murder never subsides.”
Shakur was the godmother of rapper Tupac Shakur, to whom she had a connection through his brother, Mutulu Shakur. In a 1998 interview with NBC New York in Havana, Shakur stated that she was wrongly convicted and was never involved in anyone’s murder. She claimed that police shot and tortured her, and that her trial was not fair.
Life and Death in Cuba
During her more than 40-year stay in Cuba, Shakur lived a quiet life. According to the Cuban Foreign Ministry, her death was due to old age and health problems. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and State Police Superintendent Colonel Patrick Callahan said in a statement that they had worked with the State Department to extradite Shakur, but now they would oppose any attempt to bring her remains to the United States.
Assata Shakur’s life and death raise complex questions about race, justice, and the struggle for freedom. To some, she was a revolutionary heroine who fought against racial injustice, while to others, she was a convicted criminal who fled the country to escape the law. Her story reflects a controversial chapter in American history that continues to be a subject of discussion and debate today.
