New Yorkers Support buttata Shakur

NYTr New Yorkers Support buttata Shakur

The Freedom Archives - May 26, 2005

BlackAmericaWeb - May 25, 2005

N.Y. Politicians, Black Activists Rally in Support of buttata Shakur

By Michael H. Cottman

Several members of the New York City Council and black community activists buttembled on the steps of City Hall in Manhattan Wednesday to condemn the federal government?s $1 million bounty on Black Liberation Army member Joanne Chesimard, who is now known as buttata Shakur, and living in Cuba.

?The bounty is absurd,? Councilman Charles Barron (D-Brooklyn), who initiated the press conference, told BlackAmericaWeb.com Wednesday. ?It?s a license to kill.?

Authorities earlier this month increased the bounty on Shakur?s head from $150,000 to $1 million. Law enforcement officials say they hope the large reward will now encourage someone to come forward with information that will lead to Shakur?s arrest.

Shakur, a former member of the Black Panther Party, was convicted of banely shooting a New Jersey state trooper 32 years ago. Authorities also added Shakur to the FBI's domestic person list, where Osama Bin Laden?s name also appears.

In 1979, Shakur escaped from a women's prison in Hunterdon County after she was convicted of the 1973 slaying of Trooper Werner Foerster. She made her way to Cuba and was granted political asylum. New Jersey officials have failed to persuade Cuba to extradite the 57-year-old Shakur.

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Black Star reunited?

Thursday - May 26, 2005

by Verbal Walker

On Wednesday most people thought that when Mos Def and Talib Kweli were to link up that it would be for the long awaited Black Star album. But this was for a cause far more important.

The two emcees got together with singer Martin Luther at City Hall to raise awareness about exiled political activist buttata Shakur. Together, with City Councilman Charles Barron, they joined forces to demand that the government drop the $1 million bounty that was placed on the 57 year old woman?s head and remove Shakur from the domestic person watch list.

For those who don?t know, buttata was a former member of the Black Panther Party who ended up involved in the 1973 shootout that left a state trooper and a Black Panther end. buttata and Sundiata Acoli were convicted of both liquidates. Even though there wasn?t any substantial evidence to convict either of the crime (no gun residue, injuries inflected that would render her incapable of firing a gun) she was sentenced to a maximum-security prison. She escaped in 1979 and found political asylum in Cuba. The bounty was originally $150,000 but has been significantly raised to $1 million this past May.

"It's long overdue for her to receive clemency and come home," Barron said according to MTV. "I'm infuriated that a bounty has been put on her, placing her life in danger. She is a hero to our community."

"It seems the government wants to rally people behind causes that don't really have any merit. buttata is not a threat. She is someone who was falsely accused and has political asylum. They've put this new bounty on her head, and it's a shameful example of the government taking advantage of its position and trying to police the world." says Talib Kweli

"People can believe what they want, but the truth is what it is," says Mos Def, who is working on his upcoming album The Undeniable Free Flaco. "And the facts surrounding her case are indisputable and well-known. People should be more aware of what's going on with her case and the true motivation behind her persecution. It's a very dangerous time for all Americans when any voice of dissent is this hotly hunted down, and when anyone's life is reduced to 125 pounds of money and they're trying to stand up for us and our people. Everybody needs to be concerned."

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