Assata Shakur, a prominent Black liberation activist and former member of the Black Liberation Army, has died in Havana, Cuba, at the age of 78. The Cuban Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed her death on September 25, attributing it to health complications related to advanced age.
Born Joanne Deborah Chesimard on July 16, 1947, in New York City, Shakur became a symbol of resistance and controversy. In 1977, she was convicted of the 1973 murder of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster during a shootout on the New Jersey Turnpike. Shakur maintained her innocence, claiming she was unarmed and shot with her hands raised. Despite medical testimony supporting her account, she was sentenced to life imprisonment.
In 1979, Shakur escaped from prison with the assistance of the Black Liberation Army and fled to Cuba in 1984, where she was granted political asylum by Fidel Castro's government. Her case became a point of contention between the U.S. and Cuba, with the FBI listing her among the "Most Wanted Terrorists" and offering a $2 million reward for information leading to her capture.
Throughout her exile, Shakur remained active in political discourse, particularly within activist circles. Her autobiography, Assata: An Autobiography, and her speeches have inspired generations advocating for racial justice and civil rights.
She was also known as the godmother of rapper Tupac Shakur.
Following her death, tributes from left-leaning organizations and activists have sparked bipartisan backlash, particularly in New Jersey. Governor Phil Murphy condemned the celebratory posts as "shameful," while others, including former Ohio state senator Nina Turner and the Democratic Socialists of America, released statements honoring her legacy.
Shakur's death has reignited debates over her legacy, with supporters viewing her as a revolutionary figure fighting for justice, while critics emphasize her violent past and FBI terrorist designation. The controversy surrounding her life and death continues to be a point of division in discussions about race, justice, and activism in America.
Police in Liverpool arrested dozens of supporters of the banned group Palestine Action on Sunday, as they gathered outside the venue for the Labour Pa...
Assata Shakur, a prominent Black liberation activist and former member of the Black Liberation Army, has died in Havana, Cuba, at the age of 78. The C...
Russian forces launched a large-scale drone and missile attack on Ukraine overnight, resulting in at least four fatalities and over 70 injuries....
In a significant development, a small boat carrying 125 migrants crossed the English Channel from France to the UK on Saturday, setting a new record f...
Moldova’s ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) is outperforming expectations in the parliamentary election, garnering roughly 46% support as ...
Police in Liverpool arrested dozens of supporters of the banned group Palestine Action on Sunday, as they gathered outside the venue for the Labour Party’s annual conference.
Russian forces launched a large-scale drone and missile attack on Ukraine overnight, resulting in at least four fatalities and over 70 injuries.
In a significant development, a small boat carrying 125 migrants crossed the English Channel from France to the UK on Saturday, setting a new record for the largest number of people on a single vessel making the perilous journey.
Moldova’s ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) is outperforming expectations in the parliamentary election, garnering roughly 46% support as about 90% of ballots have been counted, the Central Electoral Commission says.
AnewZ has learned that India has once again blocked Azerbaijan’s application for full membership in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation, while Pakistan’s recent decision to consider diplomatic relations with Armenia has been coordinated with Baku as part of Azerbaijan’s peace agenda.
A day of mourning has been declared in Portugal to pay respect to victims who lost their lives in the Lisbon Funicular crash which happened on Wednesday evening.
Video from the USGS (United States Geological Survey) showed on Friday (19 September) the Kilauea volcano in Hawaii erupting and spewing lava.
At least eight people have died and more than 90 others were injured following a catastrophic gas tanker explosion on a major highway in Mexico City’s Iztapalapa district on Wednesday, authorities confirmed.
A powerful 7.4-magnitude earthquake struck off Russia’s Kamchatka Peninsula on 13 September with no tsunami threat, coming just weeks after the region endured a devastating 8.8-magnitude quake — the strongest since 1952.
A French appeals court has reopened the trial of Air France and Airbus over the 2009 crash of Flight AF447, which resulted in the deaths of all 228 people on board.
Tropical Storm Imelda formed on Sunday, September 28, near the Bahamas and is forecast to strengthen into a hurricane by early this week.
Police in Liverpool arrested dozens of supporters of the banned group Palestine Action on Sunday, as they gathered outside the venue for the Labour Party’s annual conference.
Russian forces launched a large-scale drone and missile attack on Ukraine overnight, resulting in at least four fatalities and over 70 injuries.
In a significant development, a small boat carrying 125 migrants crossed the English Channel from France to the UK on Saturday, setting a new record for the largest number of people on a single vessel making the perilous journey.
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