Assata Shakur, Black Revolutionary and Fugitive, Dies at 78 in Cuba

Assata Shakur, a prominent Black revolutionary and political activist who found sanctuary in Cuba for decades after escaping a New Jersey prison, has died at the age of 78. Her passing in Havana due to "health conditions and advanced age" was confirmed by both her daughter and the Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Shakur's life was marked by her activism, a controversial conviction, and a long exile that fueled ongoing diplomatic tensions between the United States and Cuba.

Born JoAnne Deborah Byron, Shakur was a member of the Black Panther Party and later the Black Liberation Army (BLA). She was convicted in 1977 for the 1973 shooting death of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster during a violent roadside stop on the New Jersey Turnpike. During the incident, another BLA member, Zayd Shakur, was also killed, and Trooper James Harper was wounded.

Following her conviction and a life sentence, Shakur escaped from the Clinton Correctional Facility for Women in New Jersey in 1979 with assistance from BLA members. She subsequently made her way to Cuba, where Fidel Castro's government granted her political asylum in 1984. U.S. authorities, including the FBI, consistently demanded her extradition, placing her on the Most Wanted Terrorists list in 2013, making her the first woman to be designated as such, and offering a $2 million reward for her capture.

Cuba, however, steadfastly refused, citing her as a victim of political persecution and upholding her status as a political refugee. This stance became a significant point of contention in U.S.-Cuba relations for decades. Shakur maintained her innocence regarding the trooper's death, asserting in her autobiography, "Assata: An Autobiography," that she was shot with her "hands up!"

Her legacy remains deeply polarized, with supporters viewing her as a freedom fighter and political prisoner, while law enforcement and many others consider her a convicted murderer and domestic terrorist. Her writings and story have resonated within various movements, including Black Lives Matter, and influenced numerous artists, including rappers Tupac Shakur (who considered her a godmother) and Common. New Jersey officials, including Governor Phil Murphy, have expressed that "justice was never served" in Trooper Foerster's death.