Detroit City Council supports exiled revolutionary
Published Aug 16, 2005 8:48 PM
The Detroit City Council unanimously passed a resolution
declaring July 17, “International Hands Off Assata Day†in
support of the African American freedom fighter, Assata
Shakur. July 17 is Shakur's birthday.
The resolution included a brief synopsis of Shakur's
political history, including her being a target of the FBI's
racist Counter Intelligence Program (Cointelpro) during the
1960s and 1970s. The resolution denounced the $1 million
bounty put on Shakur's head by the U.S. government May 2 to
encourage her being kidnapped from Cuba. She has been living
in exile there since her escape from prison in the United
States in 1979.
To read the resolution in its entirety, go to
http://www.workers.org/2005/us/resol...825/index.html
Detroit resolution supports freedom fighter Assata Shakur
Published Aug 16, 2005 9:19 PM
The following resolution was unanimously passed by the
Detroit City Council on July 27, 2005. The resolution was
submitted by Council Member Joann Watson
WHEREAS, Pervasive and unrelenting police terrorism directed
at communities of color during the 1960s made necessary the
formation of the Black Panther Party for Self-Defense; and
WHEREAS, Numerous dedicated and courageous young people of
African ancestry enlisted in the ranks of the Black Panther
Party to monitor and deter police violence, and to staff
community service programs aimed at providing food, health
care, legal assistance, transportation and other services to
Black and other poor people living in poverty; and
WHEREAS, One of the committed individuals who joined the
Black Panther Party was Assata Shakur; and
WHEREAS, J. Edgar Hoover, then-Director of the FBI,
proclaimed that the Black Panther Party was “the greatest
threat to the internal security’ of the United States; and
WHEREAS, The FBI commenced an illegal campaign of terror
against the Black Panther Party that came to be known
as “COINTELPRO’ (CounterIntelligence Program); and
WHEREAS, In the face of increasing government violence
directed at the Black Panther Party and other activists,
Assata Shakur became one of many targets of government
surveillance, harassment and intimidation; and
WHEREAS, On May 2, 1973, Shakur and others in a vehicle in
which she was traveling became the victims of racial
profiling when they were stopped on the New Jersey Turnpike,
allegedly because of a broken tail-light; and
WHEREAS, Shakur reported that, during the stop, she was shot
twice after she had complied with the New Jersey State
Troopers´ demand that she raise her hands; and
WHEREAS, During the stop, fatal gunshot wounds were sustained
by a State Trooper and one of Shakur's companions; and
WHEREAS, Shakur was later charged with both deaths and then
tried before an all-white jury; and
WHEREAS, Notwithstanding the fact that defense lawyers
presented objective medical and other evidence that
substantiated Shakur´s contention that her hands were raised
when she was shot, she was nevertheless convicted and
sentenced to life imprisonment plus 33 years; and
WHEREAS, Shakur reported that she endured torture and
continuing threats of violence while in the custody of police
and prison officials; and
WHEREAS, Shakur escaped from Clinton Correctional Institution
in 1979 after she concluded that her life was in danger and
that she had no hope of receiving justice; and
WHEREAS, Even though Shakur was ultimately granted political
asylum in Cuba, New Jersey and Federal officials have pursued
her relentlessly since her escape; and
WHEREAS, No extradition treaty exists between the United
States and Cuba, and consequently there are no legal grounds
for demanding Shakur´s return to U.S. shores; and
WHEREAS, On May 2, 2005, the U.S. Justice Department
announced that it is offering an extraordinary $1 million
bounty for Shakur´s capture, notwithstanding the fact that
supporters contend that she has been repeatedly denied the
following and other human rights recognized under
international law: freedom from arbitrary arrest, detention
and exile; freedom from torture, and cruel and inhuman or
degrading treatment; a presumption of innocence at trial; and
the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from
persecution; and
WHEREAS, The bounty is likely to encourage illegal and
unjustifiable kidnapping attempts that will place Shakur´s
life in jeopardy; and
WHEREAS, Shakur´s supporters have proclaimed Sunday, July 17,
2005 as “International Hands Off Assata Day’; NOW, THEREFORE
BE IT
RESOLVED, That the City Council for the City of Detroit calls
upon the U.S. Justice Department to demonstrate respect for
U.S. and international law by immediately withdrawing the
offer to pay a $1 million bounty for the capture of Assata
Shakur; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, That the City Council for the City of Detroit
proclaims its support for "lnternational Hands Off Assata
Day’ on Sunday, July 17, 2005.
---Monica Moorehead
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