Why?: Former Black Panther Assata Shakur Added to FBI’s Most Wanted Terrorist List

Democracy Now

The FBI added Assata Shakur to its Most Wanted Terrorist List today. In addition, the state of New Jersey announced it was adding $1 million to the FBI’s $1 million reward for her capture. Shakur becomes the first woman ever to make the list and only the second domestic terrorist to be added to the list.

Assata Shakur, the former Joanne Chesimard, was a member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army. She was convicted in the May 2, 1973 killing of a New Jersey police officer during a shoot-out that left one of her fellow activists dead. She was shot twice by police during the incident. In 1979, she managed to escape from jail. Shakur fled to Cuba where she received political asylum. She once wrote, "I am a 20th century escaped slave. Because of government persecution, I was left with no other choice than to flee from the political repression, racism and violence that dominate the U.S. government’s policy towards people of color."

I am aware of how this thread is likely to get get sidetracked, I'm sure that some posters will use this thread as a platform to attack the Black Panther Party, the Black Liberation Army as well as Socialism and Left Wing ideologies.

I would like to ask those who intend to do that to first answer:
Let's assume she is guilty and did in fact kill that police officer, does that make her a terrorist?
This particular case aside, are we comfortable allowing terrorism to be defined this way?
This is the same list that Osama bin Laden was on, are these two people equatable?

For those interested in the case and a discussion on Assata Shakur's placement on the FBI's Most Wanted Terrorists list there's a 30 minute video on Huffington Post Live.

Personally, I think she is innocent. The murder she was found guilty of happened 40 years ago at the tail end of the very active phase of the Civil Rights Movement in which black power groups, socialist, communist and other left wing groups were very heavily targeted and infiltrated by the FBI's counterintelligence program known as COINTELPRO, it is also widely believed that COINTELPRO carried out assassinations of members of these groups as well as commit crimes and frame members of these groups for them.

The facts of this case are puzzling and make me redouble my question of why this woman in particular was placed on the list. This is a woman who was heavily targeted by law enforcement during her activism, she was charged with and found innocent of or charges were dropped, many crimes... some of which happened while she was incarcerated pending trial of other charges. The following link presents some of the refutations of the case in which she was found guilty of murder, written by one of her attorney's. I'll quote a few of them.

1. The finger print analyses of every gun and every piece of ammunition found at the scene showed there were no fingerprints of Assata found on any of them. (The official analyses admitted into evidence)

2. Neutron Activation Analysis taken immediately after Assata was taken to the hospital that night showed there was no gun power residue on her hands. Effectively refuting the possibility that she had fired a gun. (The official analyses were admitted into evidence)

5. A surgeon testified that “it was anatomically necessary that both arms be in the air for Ms. Chesimard to have received the wounds she did.”

However, Assata was not convicted of firing the shot that killed Trooper Foerster. She was convicted as an accomplice to his murder under New Jersey’s “aiding and abetting” statute. Under New Jersey law, if a person’s presence at the scene of a crime can be construed as “aiding and abetting” the crime, that person can be convicted of the substantive crime itself.

She was not convicted of actually firing the bullet that killed the officer, she was convicted of murder simply because she was there. It's also important to note that the slain officers partner recanted his initial statements that he saw her fire the gun, while under oath during cross examination in which he admitted he lied and did not see her fire a gun nor did he see her even in possession of one.

Assata Shakur has been living under political asylum in Cuba since 1984, other than writing a book and a letter to Pope John Paul II, she has not been politically active, so the questions remain, why her and why now?

reply to post by Kali74


What an awesome thread.

Now she is a terrorist. She had to flee her own country because of being targeted and accused of some bs.

Stories like this make my blood boil.

Where is the justice??

reply to post by Kali74


What next ? Martin Luther King Jr ? Is he still on their list ?

I'm with you, This is ridiculous.

Using the word terrorist is the fastest way to make someone a criminal without having to show proof of why they are a terrorist. She didn't kill someone and she escaped jail but when did that make someone a terrorist? It won't be long before many other people are wrongly labeled a terrorist.

Well what did the government expect? For the people to continue living with this kind of craziness? Maybe if the government didn't torture the American people, they wouldn't have groups like this.

She's also the step-aunt of Tupac, didn't know she was part of the Black Panthers Party.

Well she was labled a domestic terrorist in 2005 so its not really a new occurence.

I'd say there are political reasons for putting her on the Most Wanted List one of the biggest is probably the Obama administration wanting to test the resolve of the new government in Cuba.

If they can get them to give her up, unlike Castro, it tells us alot about the strength of Cuba. I believe this chic being used as a pawn for larger issues.

The US doesn't like her.....Of course she's a terrorist.

It's the new definition!

reply to post by Kali74


You are quite the apologist.

I would like to ask those who intend to do that to first answer:
Let's assume she is guilty and did in fact kill that police officer, does that make her a terrorist?
This particular case aside, are we comfortable allowing terrorism to be defined this way?

She didn’t become a terrorist because she killed a cop; that made her a murderer. She became a terrorist because of her continued involvement with the Black Liberation Army.

Terrorism:

Systematic use of violence to create a general climate of fear in a population and thereby to bring about a particular political objective.

link

Black Liberation Army:

…an underground, black nationalist militant organization that operated in the United States from 1970 to 1981. Composed largely of former Black Panthers (BPP), the organization's program was one of "armed struggle" and its stated goal was to "take up arms for the liberation and self-determination of black people in the United States."[1] The BLA carried out a series of bombings, murders, robberies, and prison breaks.

link

This is the same list that Osama bin Laden was on, are these two people equatable?

Yes they are!

Why on Earth would they do that? That is RACIST!!

2nd

Gs

reply to post by Kali74

The label of "terrorist" and "terrorism" is now being used for a wide variety of alleged criminal offenses, its main purpose to deprive the accused of any Constitutional rights.

Its all part of the new freedom agenda.

While they are very careful to avoid the term "martial law", they are training us to become accustomed to "lock down", a term associated with prisoners...

Originally posted by GermanShep
Why on Earth would they do that? That is RACIST!!

I knew it wouldn’t take long!

reply to post by seabag

You are quite the apologist.

Do you ever get sick of using buzz words to shut people down?

She didn’t become a terrorist because she killed a cop; that made her a murderer. She became a terrorist because of her continued involvement with the Black Liberation Army.

She was acquitted of all other crimes she was charged with or charges were dropped. Also she wasn't convicted of killing the officer she was convicted of murder because New Jersey law allowed for someone involved at the scene to be convicted of the greater crime.

Furthermore are all BLA members on the terrorist list? Nope. Did they do terrible things? It sounds like they did, but I can't say with absoluteness that I believe they did, the FBI has quite a track record with dissenters, don't you think?

reply to post by Kali74

Do you ever get sick of using buzz words to shut people down?

It was an observation….and no, I don’t.

She was acquitted of all other crimes she was charged with or charges were dropped. Also she wasn't convicted of killing the officer she was convicted of murder because New Jersey law allowed for someone involved at the scene to be convicted of the greater crime.

She’s a convicted murder….she put 2 bullets in a man’s head….nuff said!

Furthermore are all BLA members on the terrorist list? Nope. Did they do terrible things? It sounds like they did, but I can't say with absoluteness that I believe they did, the FBI has quite a track record with dissenters, don't you think?

This group did exactly what I said. It doesn’t matter how certain YOU are. Maybe you should do some research on the Black Liberation Army. She was a proud member and that was a group of terrorists….all of them! I’d like to see all surviving members of that group locked in GITMO!

Click here for more information.

Originally posted by GrantedBail
reply to post by Hopechest

 

LOL new government in Cuba. Are you stoned??

As of February 2008 yes, they have a new government. At least the leadership, their council rotates quite frequently.

reply to post by Hopechest

Uh, OK.

LOL

VIVA CUBA!!

reply to post by seabag


I have a feeling that you and I have different meanings for the word 'research'. As I said in the OP, if she did commit crimes she should serve her sentence, I just don't see how putting her on the list serves to accomplish that, she's in Cuba not on the run here at home also nothing she was accused or convicted of doing (by the way you should read the links I provided that pretty much prove she did not kill that officer) are acts of terror.

Because the rules change when someone is labeled a terrorist it should be of great concern to every American. But perhaps you approve of a heavy handed government that gets to ignore the Constitution whenever they feel like.

reply to post by Kali74

she's in Cuba not on the run here at home

She was broken out of jail (with GUNS) by her buddies after they held people hostage!! She fled to Cuba to avoid capture!! What an innocent woman! Maybe sainthood is in her future!!

also nothing she was accused or convicted of doing (by the way you should read the links I provided that pretty much prove she did not kill that officer) are acts of terror.

Her involvement with a terrorist organization makes her a terrorist. Guilt by association! She was an active militant!

Because the rules change when someone is labeled a terrorist it should be of great concern to every American.

In this case it’s justified!

But perhaps you approve of a heavy handed government that gets to ignore the Constitution whenever they feel like.

Give me a break!

You know that’s not the case…you’ve seen my post/thread history!