Joanne Chesimard, also known as Assata Olugbala Shakur, 66, a former Black Panther, is only the second “domestic terrorist” to make the list.
Chesimard is wanted for escaping from prison in Clinton, New Jersey, while serving a life sentence for murder. On May 2, 1973, Chesimard, who was part of a revolutionary Black Panther group known as the Black Liberation Army, and two accomplices were stopped for a motor vehicle violation on the New Jersey Turnpike by two troopers with the New Jersey State Police.
At the time, Chesimard was wanted for her involvement in several felonies, including bank robbery. She and her accomplices opened fire on the troopers. One trooper was wounded and the other was shot and killed execution-style at point-blank range.
Chesimard fled the scene, but was subsequently apprehended. One of her accomplices was killed in the shoot-out and the other was also apprehended and remains in jail.
In 1977, Chesimard was found guilty of first degree murder, assault and battery of a police officer, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with intent to kill, illegal possession of a weapon, and armed robbery. She was sentenced to life in prison. On November 2, 1979, Chesimard escaped from prison and lived underground before being located in Cuba in 1984. She is thought to currently still be living in Cuba.
She released an autobiography in 2001 under the name Assata Shakur and Assata – In Her Own Words. In the first she recounted the experiences that led her to a life of activism and eventual escape and in the second she talks about her life in Cuba. An entire website is dedicated to her at by The Talking Drum Collective. The domain is registered to a Jacuma Kambui in Stone Mountain, Georgia.
On it organizers state: “Assata Speaks is currently soliciting ideas and suggestions on how to agitate, organize and mobilize in Assata’s honor, in an effort to protect her right to freedom and to acknowledge what we consider to be an aggressive and on-going effort to frame, jail, kill, and defame genuine black activists that address inequities in America.”
The FBI Chesimard she also goes by the name Joanne Byron, Barbara Odoms, Joanne Chesterman, Joan Davis, Justine Henderson, Mary Davis, Pat Chesimard, Jo-Ann Chesimard, Joanne Debra Chesimard, Joanne D. Byron, Joanne D. Chesimard, Joanne Davis, Chesimard Joanne, Ches Chesimard, Sister-Love Chesimard, Joann Debra Byron Chesimard, Joanne Deborah Byron Chesimard, Joan Chesimard, Josephine Henderson, Carolyn Johnson, Carol Brown and “Ches” and may wear her hair in a variety of styles and dress in African tribal clothing.
The FBI is offering a reward of up to $1,000,000 for information directly leading to the apprehension of Chesimard while a $1 million payout from the state of New Jersey is also being offered. Persons with information are asked to call 1-800-CALL-FBI (1-800-225-5324) or contact the local American consulate.
