The Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) and several public figures have issued statements honoring Assata Shakur following her death in Cuba. Shakur, born JoAnne Deborah Byron and also known as Joanne Chesimard, was convicted in 1977 for the murder of State Trooper Werner Foerster during a 1973 incident on the New Jersey Turnpike. She escaped from prison in 1979 and later surfaced in Cuba, where she lived until her death.
The CTU posted on X: “Rest in Power, Rest in Peace, Assata Shakur. Today we honor the life and legacy of a revolutionary fighter, a fierce writer, a revered elder of Black liberation, and a leader of freedom whose spirit continues to live in our struggle. Assata refused to be silenced. She taught us that ‘It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love each other and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains.’”
Rolling Stone magazine also commemorated Shakur with a post quoting her: “I advocate an end to capitalist exploitation, the abolition of racist policies, the eradication of sexism, and the elimination of political repression. If that is a crime, then I am totally guilty.”
Other organizations and individuals expressed similar sentiments online after news broke that Cuban officials had announced Shakur’s death.
Assata Shakur was placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorists list after her escape from prison and subsequent flight to Cuba.
Her conviction stemmed from involvement in violent incidents during the 1970s associated with radical activism.
Shakur’s legacy remains controversial due to her criminal convictions as well as her status among some groups as an activist figure.
