US EditionAssata Shakur, a fugitive Black militant sought by the US since 1979, dies in Cuba
Assata Shakur spent decades in Cuban exile after escaping prison and was the first woman on the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists list with a $2 million reward for her capture.
- Assata Shakur, born Joanne Deborah Chesimard, was a Black liberation activist who passed away in Havana on Thursday, 2025, as a result of medical issues related to her age.
- Her notoriety began after a 1973 armed confrontation with New Jersey State Police officers during a traffic stop that resulted in the death of trooper Werner Foerster and led to her conviction for murder in 1977, followed by a life sentence.
- In November 1979, Shakur was freed from Clinton Correctional Facility by armed individuals affiliated with the Black Liberation Army who disguised themselves as visitors; she later reappeared in Cuba in 1984, where she received asylum from Fidel Castro.
- Shakur was placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists list in 2013 with a $2 million reward, while she maintained in writings that she did not shoot anyone and was wounded with her hands raised.
- Her case remained a contentious issue between the U.S. and Cuba for decades, with U.S. authorities repeatedly demanding her return, but she lived out her life largely shielded from extradition.
105 Articles
105 Articles
Assata Shakur, fugitive Black activist who escaped life sentence for killing police officer, dies in Cuba
In her telling, and in the minds of her supporters, she was pursued for crimes she didn't commit or that were justified. The FBI put Shakur on its list of “most wanted terrorists.”
Assata Shakur was a militant fighter for the rights of blacks in the USA. Her godchild was one of the greatest rap stars of all time.
Assata Shakur, a black liberation activist who escaped from an American prison in 1979, has died. She was serving a life sentence for the murder of a police officer and was later granted political asylum in Cuba.
Assata Shakur, Black Liberation Army figure and activist, dies at 78
Black liberation activist and American fugitive Assata Shakur, who escaped to Cuba more than 45 years ago after she was convicted of killing a New Jersey state trooper, died in Havana, the government announced Friday.
Coverage Details
Bias Distribution
- 51% of the sources lean Left
Factuality
To view factuality data please Upgrade to Premium
