Social Justice
U.S. Official Says Extradition of Assata Shakur Still Possible
Officials in New Jersey are not letting go the issue of Assata Shakur lightly
Officials in New Jersey are not letting go the issue of Assata Shakur lightly, despite being told numerous times that Cuban officials have said the topic is completely off limits.
According to State Department spokesman Jeff Rathke, now that President Barack Obama has moved the diplomatic ball further by taking Cuba off a list of nations that sponsor terrorism, the status of Shakur and other convicts who sought asylum in Cuba will be up for discussion, reports NorthJersey.com.
Shakur, also known as Joanne Chesimard, was convicted of killing a New Jersey state trooper in 1977. She escaped prison and in 1984 was granted political asylum by Cuba, where she’s lived ever since.
The article reports the State Department said talks with Cuban officials included mention of Assata Shakur.
However, Cuban officials have not responded to media inquiries about the validity of that statement or what was actually discussed about the possibility of extraditing Shakur back to the U.S.
Shakur’s lawyer, Lennox Hinds, a professor at Rutgers University, thinks that’s the case. “I think it is a spin being put out by the U.S. government. I have no reason to give any credence to it,” Hinds said. He told NorthJersey.com that Cuban authorities recently told him that Shakur’s political asylum would not be revoked.
Read more at NorthJersey.com
Real stories. Real impact. Straight to your inbox. Join thousands others. Click here to subscribe to our newsletter today
Discover more from Unheard Voices Magazine
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
In Memoriam: Demond Wilson, ‘Sanford and Son’ Star (1946 – 2026)
New Brunswick, NJ 16-year-old shot and killed inside home
St. Thomas Carnival 2026 dates announced
Legal Defense Fund calls on federal leaders to condemn violence against public officials and cease inciteful rhetoric
‘The Blind Side’ actor Quinton Aaron’s GoFundMe surpasses goal
South Carolina midwife Dr. Janell Green Smith dies after childbirth complications
GoFundMe launched for daughters of Keith Porter after fatal shooting by off-duty ICE agent
OWN greenlights first-ever ‘Belle Collective’ spinoff Belle Collective: Birmingham
Rising New Jersey boxer struck, killed by car, prosecutor says
Family of Los Angeles man fatally shot by off-duty ICE agent demands answers
OWN greenlights first-ever ‘Belle Collective’ spinoff Belle Collective: Birmingham
Hazel Scott’s legacy returns to Harlem in free outdoor film screening
Olympic Gymnast Frederick Richard sets world record, raises $50K for Ugandan youth
Renee Ferguson, trailblazing investigative journalist, dies at 75
“AfroPoP Digital Shorts” returns to the land with “Sweet Samara,” climate and abolitionist film
-
Black Excellence2 weeks agoDr. Gladys West, GPS pioneer whose calculations transformed modern navigation, dies at 95
-
In Memoriam1 week agoRemembering Alex Jeffrey Pretti: A life rooted in care and service
-
Community2 weeks agoFlorida bride grieves fiancé’s death as venue refuses refund, GoFundMe launched
-
Crime & Justice2 weeks agoWhite Mississippi man cleared in Black boy’s, 10, hit-and-run death appears to spit at victim’s family
-
Community2 weeks agoArkansas siblings lean on each other after mother’s sudden death from brain aneurysm
-
In Memoriam2 weeks agoGoFundMe launched for son of Washington D.C. officer killed after being struck while aiding stranded driver
-
Community1 week agoFamily says masked plainclothes Newark, N.J. officers fired at car pulling away, killing man
-
Crime & Justice2 weeks agoFormer Nickelodeon star Kianna Underwood dies at 33 after Brooklyn hit‑and‑run