On Thursday, September 25, Black Liberation Army (BLA) and former Black Panther, Assata Shakur transitioned at the age of 78. Shakur had been a resident of Cuba since her liberation from a NJ state prison in November, 1979, after being convicted of the murder of one, and assault of another, NJ state trooper in 1973. This was the seventh trial for Shakur, whom the state of NY had failed to convict on a variety of charges ranging from bank robbery to kidnapping to murder. During her final trial, Shakur opted to defend herself and her words (read on January 7, 1976) are as relevant today as the day she initially read them.
The following was included in Shakur’s opening statement:
“Throughout amerika’s history, people have been imprisoned because of their political beliefs and charged with criminal acts in order to justify that imprisonment. Those who dared to speak out against the injustices in this country, both Black and white, have paid dearly for their courage, sometimes with their lives.”
“But one percent of the people in this country control seventy percent of the wealth. And it is that one percent, the heads of large corporations, who control the policies of the news media and determine what you and I hear on radio, read in the newspapers, see on television.”
“The concept of the BLA arose because of the political, social, and economic oppression of Black people in this country. And where there is oppression, there will be resistance. The BLA is part of that resistance movement.”
In light of the loss of Assata Shakur, the GPNJ acknowledges the following:
- Shakur was a true revolutionary who never strayed from the Black radical tradition.
- Throughout her life, Shakur regularly provided her voice and writings to those seeking her leadership and guidance.
- While exiled in Cuba, Shakur remained a staunch defender for the liberation of Black people, with the clear understanding that this is necessary for the liberation of all people.
- Shakur never broke from her anti-capitalist/anti-imperialist beliefs, nor from her understanding of the role of race and class in the oppression of Black people in this country.
It is no surprise that both Republican and Democratic politicians alike have opted to parrot the mainstream narrative regarding Shakur. Gov. Murphy and Rep. Gottheimer have both offered insidious statements that seek to reduce Shakur to a fugitive, criminal, and/or cop killer, while simultaneously denying the role of COINTELPRO and a corrupt system with a proven interest in only punishing those with the least resources, finances, and ability to maintain their freedom.
Assata Shakur was more than those who work to maintain the oppressive forces in this state, and across this country, want people to comprehend. She was a mother, a beautiful writer, a phenomenal speaker, and for all who knew and loved her, a loyal friend and family member. For those who may have only known Shakur through her writings, speeches and interviews, she was a beloved freedom fighter and a respected elder in the movement.
It is with this understanding that the GPNJ:
- Denounces any and all attempts to reframe Assata Shakur in any way that dehumanizes her or diminishes her importance and relevance to the history of the Black power movement.
- Calls upon all people of conscience to commit to learning about the true life and legacy of Assata Shakur, a revolutionary leader and friend to all oppressed people around the world.
- Demands a commitment by all New Jerseyans to abandon the people and political parties who clearly reveal themselves as wolves in sheep’s clothing via their commitment to mainstream narratives.
To learn more about Assata Shakur, readers can visit the collection on Assata Shakur maintained by the Freedom Archives.