Assata Shakur, Social Activist and US Fugitive, Died at 78 in Cuba, While Under Political Asylum

Assata Shakur

Assata Shakur, born Joanne Chesimard, passed away at the age of 78 on Thursday in Havana, Cuba. She was an activist and formerly a member of the Black Liberation Army.

In a press release, Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated, "Shakur, who was born Joanne Deborah Chesimard, died Thursday in the capital city of Havana due to health issues and advanced age."

Assata was convicted of murdering state trooper Werner Foerster during a shootout on the New Jersey Turnpike in 1973 and was sentenced to life in prison. Throughout her life, she maintained her innocence regarding the murder of Officer Foerster.

Assata in Police Custody

In 1979, Shakur escaped from the Clinton Correctional Facility for Women in New Jersey, reportedly with the help of two armed men. After her escape, Shakur and her family fled the United States and resurfaced in Cuba around 1982, where she was granted political asylum.

The FBI placed Shakur on its list of "most wanted terrorists," with a $2 million bounty on her head, and she remained on that list until her death. Former President Trump and other U.S. authorities demanded that Cuba return her to America. However, Fidel Castro, the long-time President of Cuba, refused these demands.

Assata under a Cuban flag in Havana, Cuba, in 1998. (SHOBHA/Contrasto/Redux)  

According to Yahoo, a top Cuban official stated in 1998 that his government had no intention of turning over a fugitive wanted by the FBI for killing a New Jersey police officer. Gustavo Machin, the deputy director for American affairs at the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs, remarked, "I can say it is off the table," when asked about the calls for Cuba to return Joanne Chesimard.

Assata Shakur was sometimes mentioned by the late Tupac Shakur in his music, as she was reportedly his godmother.

Shakur reportedly continued to teach, author, and advocate for the liberation of all cultures while maintaining her political activism in Cuba. She stated, "It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love each other and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains."

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