Summary
Assata Shakur, born Joanne Chesimard, was a Black liberation activist who passed away at the age of 78 in Cuba, where she had been granted asylum since escaping a U.S. prison in 1979. She had previously been convicted of killing a police officer in New Jersey but contended that the charges were either false or justified. Shakur lived in Cuba after her breakout, and the U.S. government had sought her extradition for decades.
Key Facts
- Assata Shakur was born as Joanne Deborah Chesimard.
- Shakur was a member of both the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army.
- In 1977, she was convicted of murder in New Jersey and sentenced to life in prison.
- She escaped from prison in 1979 with the help of the Black Liberation Army.
- Cuba granted her asylum in 1984, where she lived until her death at 78.
- The Cuban government viewed her as part of a global anti-imperialist struggle.
- The U.S. had continuously requested her extradition, including during President Trump's term.
- The FBI included Shakur on its "most wanted terrorists" list.
