Cuba Refuses to Extradite Assata Shakur Back to the U.S. Despite New Jersey Governor Chris Christies aggravated pleas to President Obama to have Assata Shakur extradited back to the United States, Cubas head of North American affairs, Josefina Vidal, has denied that request. Shakur, formerly known as Joanne Chesimard, was a member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army (BLA). She became the first woman to ever be placed on the FBIs most-wanted list for her involvement in a 1973 shootout in which New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster was killed. Shakur was eventually sentenced to life in prison in 1977; however, she managed to flee the cement walls of the penitentiary in 1979, and later fled to Cuba where she was granted political asylum. Shakur currently remains on the FBIs most-wanted list and has a bounty of $2 million offered for her capture. Since President Obama has been attempting to normalize relations with Cuba, NJ Governor Chris Christie has adamantly requested that Obama demand Shakur be extradited to America as a part of Cuba and the United States new beginning. However, Josefina Vidal has denied Cubas agreement to hand over Shakur. Weve explained to the U.S. government in the past that there are some people living in Cuba to whom Cuba has legitimately granted political asylum, Vidal stated. Theres no extradition treaty in effect between Cuba and the U.S. Weve reminded the U.S. government that in its country theyve given shelter to dozens and dozens of Cuban citizens. Some of them accused of horrible crimes, some accused of terrorism, murder and kidnapping, and in every case the U.S. government has decided to welcome them. Chris Christie was not at all pleased by this news and lashed out at the Cuban officials as a result. So Joanne Chesimard, a cold-blooded cop-killer, convicted by a jury of her peers, in what is without question the fairest and most just criminal justice system in the world — certainly much more just than anything thats happened in Cuba under the Castro brothers. She is now, according to an official of the Cuban government, persecuted, Christie said. These thugs in Cuba have given her political asylum for 30 years. Its unacceptable. How do you feel about Cubas decision not to extradite Assata Shakur? Source: TheAssociatedPress
Posted on: Wed, 24 Dec 2014 00:03:25 +0000
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