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The United States government renewed its call for the extradition of Joanne Chesimard, also known as Assata Shakur, a fugitive convicted of the murder of a state trooper in 1973, who has been living in refuge in Cuba for four decades.
"The FBI is offering a reward of up to $1,000,000 for information that directly leads to the capture of Joanne Chesimard, who is wanted for escaping from a prison in Clinton, New Jersey, while serving a life sentence for the murder of a New Jersey State Police officer on May 2, 1973," the agency recalled today via X.
Chesimard, now 77 years old, was sentenced to life in prison in 1977 for the murder of agent Werner Foerster during a traffic stop on the New Jersey Turnpike.
According to the authorities, she opened fire on officers along with two accomplices as part of her involvement in the Black Liberation Army, a radical group that operated in the 1970s. She was arrested and convicted but escaped from prison in 1979 and reappeared in Cuba in 1984, where she received political asylum.
“Today, 52 years after the brutal murder of Officer Foerster, we continue to seek justice,” stated Secretary of State Marco Rubio in a message posted on social media. “The Cuban regime must stop protecting criminals and immediately hand over Joanne Chesimard and all the American fugitives it harbors,” he noted.
Assata Shakur became in 2013 the first woman on the FBI's most wanted terrorists list. U.S. authorities regard her as a "domestic terrorist" and warn that she should be considered "armed and dangerous."
The case has been a point of friction in diplomatic relations between Washington and Havana for decades.
While the US government insists on her extradition, Cuban authorities maintain that she is a political persecuted.
The figure of Shakur has been a subject of controversy. While the FBI views her as a dangerous criminal, civil rights organizations and activists consider her a symbol of Black resistance in the U.S.
Her autobiography, published in 1987 from Cuba, is read in academic and activist circles. Additionally, she is the godmother of the late rapper Tupac Shakur, which has kept her image alive in African American popular culture.
The possibility of his extradition has been discussed on various occasions, even in the context of bilateral negotiations between the U.S. and Cuba, but so far there has been no progress. Currently, it is estimated that more than 70 U.S. citizens who are fugitives from justice reside on the Caribbean island.
Frequently Asked Questions about the search for Joanne Chesimard and the relationship between Cuba and the U.S.
Why does the United States offer a reward for Joanne Chesimard?
The United States is offering a reward of up to 2 million dollars for information leading to the capture of Joanne Chesimard, known as Assata Shakur, who was convicted of murdering a state trooper in 1973 and escaped to Cuba, where she was granted political asylum.
What is the Cuban government's position on the extradition of Joanne Chesimard?
The Cuban government claims that Joanne Chesimard is a political fugitive and, therefore, has not agreed to the extradition requested by the United States. Cuban authorities have granted political asylum to Chesimard since 1984.
How has the case of Joanne Chesimard affected diplomatic relations between Cuba and the U.S.?
The case of Joanne Chesimard has been a constant point of friction in diplomatic relations between Cuba and the U.S., complicating bilateral negotiations and dialogue between the two countries.
What other American fugitives reside in Cuba?
It is estimated that more than 70 U.S. citizens who are fugitives from justice reside in Cuba, including individuals identified as criminals and terrorists. The case of William "Guillermo" Morales is another example, accused of the attack on Fraunces Tavern in 1975.
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