Assata Shakur Dead at 78 in Cuba — Black Liberation Army Fugitive & FBI Most Wanted
Life & Rise in Activism
Born Joanne Deborah Byron in Queens, New York, in 1947, Shakur later joined the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army. She was surveilled under the FBI’s COINTELPRO program, which targeted radical Black activists.
The 1973 New Jersey Turnpike Shootout
On May 2, 1973, Shakur and BLA members were involved in a shootout on the New Jersey Turnpike. Trooper Werner Foerster was killed, leading to Shakur’s conviction in 1977 for first-degree murder. Supporters argued evidence against her was inconclusive.
Prison Escape & Exile in Cuba
In 1979, Shakur escaped from prison with BLA support. By 1984, she was living in Cuba, where Fidel Castro granted her political asylum. The U.S. placed her on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists List in 2013, offering a $2 million reward.
Cultural Legacy & Influence
Shakur’s autobiography *Assata* remains influential in Black studies and prison abolition movements. She was the godmother of rapper Tupac Shakur, and her story has been referenced in music by Public Enemy, Common, and The Roots.
Divided Reactions & U.S.–Cuba Relations
Her death reignited debates: critics call her a convicted cop killer who evaded justice, while supporters hail her as a revolutionary icon. For decades, her presence in Cuba strained U.S.–Cuba relations. With her passing, one of the longest fugitive cases has ended.