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 25 September, attributing it to health complications related to advanced age.
Born Joanne Deborah Chesimard on 16 July, 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 organisations 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 honouring her legacy.
Shakur's death has reignited debates over her legacy, with supporters viewing her as a revolutionary figure fighting for justice, while critics emphasise 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.
Russian drone strikes killed five people and injured 24 others in Sumy, northeastern Ukraine, the country's National Police said on Telegram. I...
Overnight Iranian strikes on an air base in Jordan damaged multiple U.S. aircraft and left one without a wing, American media reported. Meanwhile, ...
U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged to send every American adult a $5,000 payment if the Republicans keep control of the House of Represen...
Four people were killed, including a child, in Ukrainian strikes on the Russian port city of Novorossiysk overnight, according to the governor of the Krasnodar region. Ukraine's drone forces commander, Robert Brovdi, said Russian military ships were destroyed in the attacks.
A TV channel was struck during a live broadcast on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as Russian strikes on Kyiv killed at least three people, the city's Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Meanwhile, drones hit civilian infrastructure in Russia's southwestern Saratov region.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) allegedly launched two ballistic missile attacks against a U.S. Navy warship over the past two days.
Wildfires have broken out in Türkiye’s Antalya province, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate as strong winds fuelled the flames.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said on Wednesday they attacked two U.S. vessels and eight oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, calling the strikes a response to a U.S. attack on five Iranian tankers.
Russian drone strikes killed five people and injured 24 others in Sumy, northeastern Ukraine, the country's National Police said on Telegram. In Russia, sea drones injured eight people in the Black Sea resort city of Sochi, regional authorities said.
U.S. President Donald Trump has pledged to send every American adult a $5,000 payment if the Republicans keep control of the House of Representatives and the Senate in November's midterm elections.
At least five people have died and more than 80 others remain unaccounted for after a passenger ferry caught fire off the western Philippines, prompting a major search-and-rescue operation involving the coast guard, government agencies and local fishing communities.
Four people were killed, including a child, in Ukrainian strikes on the Russian port city of Novorossiysk overnight, according to the governor of the Krasnodar region. Ukraine's drone forces commander, Robert Brovdi, said Russian military ships were destroyed in the attacks.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said on Wednesday they attacked two U.S. vessels and eight oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, calling the strikes a response to a U.S. attack on five Iranian tankers.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment