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28 September 2025

Assata Shakur Dies In Havana After Decades In Exile

The death of the Black Panther icon and fugitive closes a controversial chapter in U.S.-Cuba relations and reignites debate over justice, race, and political resistance.

Assata Shakur, the iconic and divisive Black activist who spent more than four decades living in exile in Cuba, died on Thursday, September 25, 2025, in Havana. She was 78. Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs confirmed her passing, citing health complications and advanced age as the cause. The news was also shared by her daughter, Kakuya Shakur, who wrote in a heartfelt social media post that her mother “took her last earthly breath” at about 1:15 pm that day.

Born JoAnne Deborah Byron in 1947 in Flushing, New York, Shakur’s journey from student to revolutionary remains one of the most debated stories in American history. She first rose to prominence in the late 1960s as a member of the Black Panther Party, a group that confronted systemic racism and police brutality. Later, she joined the Black Liberation Army, a more militant offshoot associated with armed resistance and attacks on police and government institutions. According to Associated Press and Reuters, Shakur participated in social programs and protests, but her notoriety would soon escalate dramatically.

On May 2, 1973, Shakur was involved in a traffic stop on the New Jersey Turnpike that turned deadly. The incident resulted in the deaths of State Trooper Werner Foerster and one of Shakur’s companions. Shakur herself was wounded and taken into custody. In 1977, an all-white jury convicted her of first-degree murder and other charges, sentencing her to life in prison. Throughout the trial and after, Shakur maintained her innocence, insisting she had been shot with her hands raised and that she never fired a weapon. Her supporters argued that the evidence was insufficient and that her conviction was a product of racial bias and political persecution.

Shakur’s story took a dramatic turn on November 2, 1979, when, with the help of armed allies, she escaped from the Clinton Correctional Facility for Women in New Jersey. She vanished from public view, sparking one of the most intensive manhunts in FBI history. Years later, in 1984, she resurfaced in Cuba, where Fidel Castro’s government granted her political asylum, describing her as a victim of political persecution. From that point forward, Shakur lived quietly in Havana, working as a writer and educator while raising her daughter.

Her 1988 autobiography, Assata: An Autobiography, became a must-read in activist circles, resonating with generations of people fighting for racial justice. The book featured a line that would echo through countless protests and classrooms: “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.” According to EURweb, this message was recently quoted by the Chicago Teachers Union in tribute, sparking both praise and backlash.

Shakur’s presence in Cuba was a persistent source of tension between the United States and the island nation. Successive U.S. administrations, from Ronald Reagan to Donald Trump, demanded her return. In 2013, the FBI placed her on its Most Wanted Terrorists list—the first woman ever to receive that designation—and offered a $2 million reward for information leading to her capture. The Trump administration even cited her continued asylum as a reason for labeling Cuba a state sponsor of terrorism, a designation briefly reversed by President Biden before being reinstated. Despite decades of extradition attempts—including appeals to the Vatican and direct diplomatic pressure—Cuba consistently refused, describing Shakur as a hero of the oppressed.

Shakur’s story was also woven into the fabric of hip-hop and Black cultural history. She was the step-aunt and godmother of Tupac Shakur, the legendary rapper whose mother, Afeni Shakur, was a fellow Black Panther and close friend. Tupac often cited Assata as an influence on his music and activism, and her name appeared in lyrics by artists like Public Enemy and Common. Her legacy became a rallying point in movements against mass incarceration and racial injustice, with her image and words appearing on banners and murals around the world.

Reactions to her death have been as polarized as her life. Black Lives Matter affiliates and activist groups praised her as a symbol of resistance. Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs called her a “hero of the oppressed.” Her daughter, Kakuya, expressed deep sorrow, writing, “Words cannot describe the depth of loss that I am feeling at this time.” On the other side, law enforcement officials and conservative leaders condemned her, insisting that justice was never served. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and State Police Superintendent Patrick Callahan issued a joint statement: “Sadly, it appears she has passed without being held fully accountable.” Assemblyman Michael Inganamort, who had sponsored a resolution urging Cuba to extradite her, stated, “It will forever remain a tragedy that justice was never served in the senseless murder of Trooper Foerster.”

On social media, the debate raged on. Some called her a terrorist and celebrated her death, while others mourned the loss of a revolutionary voice. Actor James Woods tweeted, “Millions embraced this fugitive cop killer as a folk hero.” The expiration of the FBI’s $2 million bounty with her passing marked the end of one of the longest-running manhunts in U.S. history.

For many, Shakur’s death closes a contentious chapter in U.S.-Cuba relations, though the broader diplomatic issues between the two countries remain unresolved. Her case was often cited during periods of thaw and tension, serving as a potent symbol of the ideological divide. As U.S. Department of State records show, her presence in Havana complicated talks on everything from extradition treaties to human rights.

Assata Shakur’s life and legacy continue to ignite fierce debate. Is she to be remembered as a revolutionary hero who fought against oppression, or as a violent fugitive who escaped justice? That question will likely endure for years to come, fueling discussions in classrooms, political arenas, and cultural circles. Her story, entwined with militant history, hip-hop’s evolution, and the ongoing struggle for racial justice, serves as a stark reminder of the unresolved wounds from America’s civil rights era—and the cost, both personal and political, of revolutionary action.

As the era of 1960s and 1970s radicalism fades, the name Assata Shakur will not be forgotten. Her passing marks the end of an era, but the debates she inspired—about justice, race, resistance, and memory—are far from settled.