Thug Life Army

With a bounty of One Million dollars recently offered for the capture of exiled Black Liberation fighter Assata Shakur; the godmother of the late hip hop / rap icon Tupac Shakur (2Pac), her life and struggles have been well publicized – but few really know the woman Assata Shakur aka Joanne Chesimard.

The sensationalized action of raising the bounty for her capture was taken 32 years after Ms. Shakur and two companions were stopped on the New Jersey Turnpike in 1973 allegedly for a “broken tail light”. There are many versions of what occurred that night, but what is known is that one Panther, Zayd Shakur, was shot dead, Assata – also shot- was left on the side of the road to die and Trooper Werner Forester also lay dead. Another Panther, Sundiata Acoli, was taken into custody.

Following trials tainted with documented human rights violations and constitutional errors including the exclusion of African people from the jury, Assata and Sundiata were both found guilty, in separate trials, of the murder of Trooper Forester and sentenced to life in prison. Prior to her New Jersey trial, Assata was tried and acquitted six times on the various false charges.

In 1979 Assata was liberated from a New Jersey jail and seven years later received political Asylum from the government of Cuba, where she has continues to speak out for the right of African people in the United States to freedom and self-determination.

”Assata was granted asylum in Cuba because they understood what many here understand”, says Kamau Karl Franklin, an attorney and member of the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement. “The Cuban government understands that Assata was convicted in a climate where she and anyone who stood up for the human rights of Black people were completely criminalized. She never had a chance at a fair trial in this country and Cuba understood that.”

Now in a wonderful and insightful documentary by filmmaker Gloria Rolando you can hear and see the woman Assata Shakur and realize her struggle.

In ‘The Eyes of the Rainbow’, a documentary film with Assata Shakur by filmmaker Gloria Rolando we are given an ‘inside’ look at the woman Assata Shakur and we can hear her amazing story and see and understand what life in Cuba has been like for her.

The following is a message from Assata Shakur. We would hope everyone who can, will react to her words.

"Like most poor people in the United States, I have no voice. The Black press and the progressive media, as well as Black civil rights organizations, have historically played an essential role in the struggle for social justice. We should continue and expand that tradition. We should create media outlets that help to educate our people and our children, and not annihilate their minds. I am only one woman. I own no TV stations or radio stations or newspapers. But I believe that people need to be educated as to what is going on and to understand the connection between the news media and the instruments of repression in America. All I have are my voice, my spirit and the will to tell the truth. But I sincerely ask those of you in the Black media, those of you in the progressive media and those of you who believe in truth and freedom to publish my story.'' - Assata Shakur

To view ‘The Eyes of the Rainbow’ - a documentary film with Assata Shakur by filmmaker Gloria Rolando please click HERE.

Please visit and support Assata Shakur at: http://www.assatashakur.org