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Assata Shakur

Assata Shakur born as Joanne Byron is a political activist and icon of the Black Liberation Movement who was involved in both the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army. In 1973 Assata along with political associates Sundiata Acoli and Zayd Shakur were pulled over by Officers James Harper and Werner Foerster at the New Jersey Turnpike where a shootout ensued. The incident left both Officer Werner and Zayd Shakur dead and both Assata and Harper wounded. Assata was later convicted for Officer Werner’s death and sentenced to life in prison plus 30 years plus 30 days. After six years of unjust and illegal confinement, in 1979, Assata escaped from Clinton’s Correctional Facility for Women with help from her brother Mutulu Shakur, Marilyn Buck and others. Assata fled to Cuba and was granted political asylum. Assata now labeled as a terrorist by the FBI with a 2 million dollar reward for her capture has lived in exile in Cuba since 1984.

Documents

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Hiding 40 non-digitized documents (show)

Assata Shakur Communiqué

Date: 11/1/1980Call Number: PM 053Format: CassetteProgram: Prison MovementCollection: Assata Shakur

Communiqué 11/80 where Assata Shakur speaks of positive strategies of revolutionary struggle against a system that has declared war

Assata Shakur: clips from her 1980 address to the people after her escape from prison

Call Number: PM 227Format: CassetteCollection: Assata Shakur

This program is an edited version of her address to the people after she escaped. She begins the recording by stating that she loves everyone and encourages everyone to continue to struggle for our liberation. Assata talks about how Black people are constantly under attack by the poor school system, infiltration of drugs, welfare system, police state, etc. She talks about the necessity for a Black Nation and how Black women must play a key role in the struggle for liberation. She says that they are the most closely related to the struggle because of their position in White American society. Assata talks about the direction of the US government and how it is continually becoming more racist and fascist; how the government sees Black peoples as expendable and just "a thorn in their side."

Assata Shakur: clips from her 1980 address to the people after her escape from prison

Call Number: PM 228Format: CassetteCollection: Assata Shakur

Same as PM 227. This program is an edited version of her address to the people after she escaped. She begins the recording by stating that she loves everyone and encourages everyone to continue to struggle for our liberation. Assata talks about how Black people are constantly under attack by the poor school system, infiltration of drugs, welfare system, police state, etc. She talks about the necessity for a Black Nation and how Black women must play a key role in the struggle for liberation. She says that they are the most closely related to the struggle because of their position in White American society. Assata talks about the direction of the US government and how it is continually becoming more racist and fascist; how the government sees Black peoples as expendable and just "a thorn in their side."

Assata Bulletin

Publisher: Assata Shakur Defense CommitteeDate: 3/7/1977Volume Number: 7-MarFormat: Press ReleaseCollection: Assata Shakur

Information Includes: Demonstration of Black Solidarity with Assata; Campus Support for Assata Grows; Attempt to Silence Black Lawyers; Legal Update.

Photo with Julio Rosado and Guillermo Morales

Format: GraphicCollection: Assata Shakur

In An Historic Photo: New Afrikan and Puerto Rican Struggles meet in Cuba

Why Assata Must be Supported, and Why Such Support is Support of the Black Liberation Movement and Does Not Stand Above Correct Political Analysis

Publisher: BLA Coordinating CommitteeDate: 1/1977Volume Number: JanuaryFormat: StatementCollection: Assata Shakur

Support of sister Assata is support of the black liberation movement. There can be no seperation, nor will we allow any. Assata belongs to black people and we oppose all attempts to confuse this very basic fact. Supporting her does not stand above politics, it is an example of ones politics in actual practice.