Assata Shakur, a Black liberation activist who spent decades in exile in Cuba after escaping a U.S. prison where she was serving a life sentence for killing a police officer, has died at the age of 78, Cuban authorities and her daughter confirmed.

Shakur, born Joanne Deborah Chesimard, passed away Thursday in Havana due to “health conditions and advanced age,” according to a statement from Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Her daughter, Kakuya Shakur, confirmed the death in a Facebook post.

Background and conviction

Shakur became a prominent figure in the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army. Her case became symbolic of tense relations between the United States and Cuba. For decades, American officials, including former President Donald Trump, called for her extradition. The FBI placed her on its list of “most wanted terrorists,” although Shakur and her supporters insisted she was targeted unjustly.

On May 2, 1973, Shakur and two companions were stopped by New Jersey State Police because of a broken taillight. A gunfight erupted, resulting in the death of Trooper Werner Foerster and injuries to another officer. One of Shakur’s associates was also killed.

Shakur fled but was later captured. In 1977, she was convicted of murder, armed robbery and other charges, and sentenced to life in prison. Additional charges related to bank robberies and shootings of police officers were largely dismissed or resulted in acquittals.

Escape and exile in Cuba

Her imprisonment ended in November 1979, when members of the Black Liberation Army, disguised as visitors, stormed the Clinton Correctional Facility for women, took two guards hostage, and broke her out in a prison van. Shakur vanished until 1984, when she surfaced in Cuba, granted political asylum by Fidel Castro.

Cuba viewed her case as part of a broader revolutionary struggle, likening her cause to anti-colonial and left-wing movements across Africa and Latin America. Shakur’s asylum became a longstanding point of contention in U.S.-Cuba relations.

Reactions to her death

New Jersey officials expressed regret that she had never been returned to the US to face justice. State Assemblyman Michael Inganamort said last year that “justice was never served” in Foerster’s death. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and State Police Superintendent Patrick Callahan stated they would “vigorously oppose” any effort to repatriate her remains, lamenting that “Sadly, it appears she has passed without being held fully accountable for her heinous crimes.”

Legacy and influence

Shakur’s story has been polarising. In her writings, she maintained she did not shoot anyone and had her hands raised during the 1973 gunfire. Her autobiography, Assata: An Autobiography (1988), includes the rallying call: “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.”

Her words have resonated in the modern Black Lives Matter movement, with groups such as Black Lives Matter Grassroots Inc. pledging to “fight in her honor and memory.” Malkia Amala Cyril, an early BLM organiser, said her passing was poignant during a period of “rising authoritarianism,” noting, “The world in this era needs the kind of courage and radical love she practiced if we are going to survive it.”

Cultural impact

Shakur’s influence extended beyond activism. She was close to the family of rapper Tupac Shakur, who considered her a godmother. Public Enemy referenced her in their 1988 song “Rebel Without a Pause,” while rapper Common told her story in his 2000 song “A Song for Assata.” Her mention in popular culture sparked debate, including controversy over her 2011 invitation to a White House poetry event during the Obama administration, which drew criticism from conservatives and law enforcement groups.

(With inputs from AP)