. We are saddened to report that Assata Shakur, revolutionary, activist, and author, has passed away September 25, 2025. "My name is Assata ("she who struggles") Olugbala ( "for the people" ) Shakur ("the thankful one"), and 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 US government's policy towards people of color. I am an ex political prisoner, and I have been living in exile in Cuba since 1984. I have been a political activist most of my life, and although the U.S. government has done everything in its power to criminalize me, I am not a criminal, nor have I ever been one. In the 1960s, I participated in various struggles: the black liberation movement, the student rights movement, and the movement to end the war in Vietnam. I joined the Black Panther Party. By 1969 the Black Panther Party had become the number one organization targeted by the FBI's COINTELPRO program. because the Black Panther Party demanded the total liberation of black people, J. Edgar Hoover called it "greatest threat to the internal security of the country" and vowed to destroy it and its leaders and activists."
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Born JoAnne Deborah Byron; July 16, 1947, also JoAnne Chesimard, she rose as a leading member of the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army, fighting for justice and freedom.Born in Flushing, Queens, Shakur grew up in New York City and Wilmington, North Carolina. After running away from home several times, she was taken in by an aunt, who later acted as one of her lawyers.
A political exile in Cuba since 1984, her life embodied resistance, resilience, and the unyielding pursuit of liberation. Her legacy lives on in the generations she inspired to stand tall in the face of oppression.
The best way to honor her is with a quote we all should understand:
“It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love each other and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains.”
Rest in power, Assata.
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.After attending CCNY, Shakur moved to Oakland, California, where she joined the Black Panther Party (BPP), and worked to organize protests and community education programs. After returning to New York City, she led the BPP chapter in Harlem, coordinating the Free Breakfast for Children program, free clinics, and community outreach. But she soon left the party, disliking the macho behavior of the men and believing that the BPP members and leaders lacked knowledge and understanding of African-American history.
Shakur joined the Black Liberation Army (BLA), an offshoot whose members were inspired by the Vietcong and the Algerian independence fighters of the Battle of Algiers. They mounted a campaign of guerilla activities against the U.S. government, using such tactics as planting bombs, holding up banks, and murdering drug dealers and police.
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