Summary:
Joanne Chesimard, also known as Assata Shakur, a convicted murderer of NJ State Trooper Werner Foerster in 1973, has died in Cuba at age 78. Chesimard escaped to Cuba in 1979, where she was granted political asylum and became a symbol of resistance. Despite ongoing efforts by U.S. authorities to extradite her, her death marks the end of a decades-long saga. Her story highlights complex issues of justice, international relations, and ideological divides.
What This Means for You:
- Understanding Historical Context: Learn about the Black Liberation Army and its impact on U.S. law enforcement to grasp the broader implications of such cases.
- Evaluating Justice and Politics: Reflect on how international relations and political asylum can complicate criminal justice outcomes.
- Engaging in Public Discourse: Use this case as a starting point for discussions on law enforcement, justice, and ideological divides.
- Future Implications: Anticipate how similar cases might influence U.S.-Cuba relations and public perception of political asylum.
Original Post:
Back in 2016, some of us asked a simple question: Why doesn’t the Obama administration demand the return of police killer Joanne Chesimard, who was hiding in Cuba? No Joanne, no embassy! Well, as you may remember, President Obama and Raul Castro did the wave at a baseball game and Joanne never came home to face justice.
We learned this week that Joanne Chesimard died in Cuba. Here is the story:
Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced Joanne Chesimard, a member of the Black Liberation Army convicted in the 1973 murder of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster, died Thursday at age 78.
She became one of the state’s most infamous criminals after Foerster’s murder and her subsequent escape to Cuba. New Jersey officials have sought to extradite Chesimard from Cuba for years; she topped the New Jersey State Police’s Most Wanted List until her death.
The Cuban ministry said she died in Havana of health complications and old age.
After graduating from college, she began using the name Assata Shakur. She and two other members of the Black Liberation Army were stopped by a pair of state troopers on the Turnpike on May 2, 1973. Chesimard was the subject of a multi-state manhunt at the time. Foerster and James Costan, another member of the BLA, died in the ensuing gunfight. State Trooper James Harper was also wounded.
Chesimard was convicted of murder and seven other felonies stemming from the shootout and sentenced to life in prison in 1977. She was also shot in the gunfight; she insisted she was innocent of the murder and had her arms in the air when she was shot. She escaped from prison in 1979 with the help of the BLA and the May 19 Communist Organization. She made her way to Cuba, where she was granted political asylum in 1984.
As you can image, Joanne became a hero in Cuba and would often appear in public to remind the world that the U.S. was a racist and imperialistic country.
Her death was greeted by some in an outrageous way. The Chicago teachers’ union once again demonstrated that they do not know history or care to learn.
On Friday, Sept. 26, the Chicago Teachers Union posted on X: “Rest in Power, Rest in Peace, Assata Shakur. Today we honor the life and legacy of a revolutionary fighter, a fierce writer, a revered elder of Black liberation, and a leader of freedom whose spirit continues to live in our struggle.”
Leader of freedom? What struggle? Hiding from the law after killing a police officer? I guess we know now why the Chicago public schools are a disaster.
Going forward, every Democrat should be asked about Joanne Chesimard and her crime. The Democrat running for governor and the other one over the bridge, who is running for mayor. Let them choose sides: police killer or support for the police, who must be outraged that this woman is getting such accolades for hiding in Cuba.
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Public Domain” src=”https://images.americanthinker.com/ag/ag8izmxe9msahwoukael_640.jpg” width=”400″ />
Image: Public Domain
Extra Information:
For further reading on the case and its implications, explore these resources: FBI’s Most Wanted List, U.S.-Cuba Relations Overview, and History of the Black Liberation Army.
People Also Ask About:
- Who was Joanne Chesimard? Joanne Chesimard, aka Assata Shakur, was a member of the Black Liberation Army convicted of killing a New Jersey state trooper in 1973.
- Why did Cuba grant her asylum? Cuba granted her political asylum in 1984, viewing her as a political prisoner and opposing U.S. extradition requests.
- Was Joanne Chesimard ever extradited? No, despite repeated U.S. efforts, Cuba refused to extradite her.
- What was the Black Liberation Army? The Black Liberation Army was a militant group advocating for Black liberation through armed struggle in the 1970s.
- How did Joanne Chesimard die? She died of natural causes in Havana, Cuba, at age 78.
Expert Opinion:
The case of Joanne Chesimard underscores the complexities of justice, international diplomacy, and ideological conflict. Her story remains a contentious symbol of the broader struggles between law enforcement and radical movements, with lasting implications for U.S.-Cuba relations.
Key Terms:
- Joanne Chesimard Assata Shakur
- Black Liberation Army history
- New Jersey State Trooper murder
- U.S.-Cuba extradition cases
- Political asylum in Cuba
- 1973 Turnpike shooting
- International fugitive justice
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