America is buzzing with many issues at the moment. One is President Barack Obama’s push to enhance strained diplomatic ties between the United States and Cuba. While some look forward to the prospects of improved relations with Cuba, this move is bigger than finally being able to smoke Cuban cigars. America’s Most Wanted woman, Assata Shakur has called Cuba home for years now. It is a concern that the former Freedom Fighter would be extradited back to finish out her life sentence for the death of a New Jersey Police officer. New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has urged President Obama to pursue Shakur, but the Cuban government shut down all that talk, saying it will not give up anyone who was granted political asylum, like Shakur.
Assata Shakur (government name Joanne Chesimard) is an activist and former member of the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army (BLA). She is the first woman in history to be placed on the FBI’s Most Wanted list. She got there after a twisted case. She was tried and convicted to life in prison for the 1973 killing of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster. A fellow BLA member was killed in the shootout as well and Shakur and another police officer were injured.
In 1977, Shakur was convicted after three trials, even though it was medically proven that her hand was wounded and it would’ve been impossible to fire a gun. Two years later, she escaped from prison and became a fugitive. She fled to Cuba and was granted political asylum on the grounds that she was being unjustly persecuted by the United States government for her activism. This decision may have been influenced by the six other criminal trials Shakur endured between 1973 and 1977 that all ended in acquittal or dismissal.
Though there is still a $2 million bond on Assata Shakur and Christie and others’ call for her to be brought back to face justice, the Cuban government, at least for the moment, has refused to give her or any others in Cuba under political asylum up.
“We’ve explained to the US government in the past that there are some people living in Cuba to whom Cuba has legitimately granted political asylum,” said Cuban spokesperson Josefina Vidal.
[RT]
The post Assata Shakur SAFE In Cuba….For Now appeared first on Don Diva Magazine.