Bill > AR141

This Resolution, passed by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey, urges Cuba to extradite Joanne Chesimard, also known as Assata Shakur, to the United States. Chesimard was convicted in 1977 for the 1973 murder of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster and the wounding of Trooper James Harper during a shootout, an event where Chesimard allegedly killed Trooper Foerster execution-style. After escaping from prison in 1979, she fled to Cuba, where she was granted political asylum and has resided since. Despite numerous past efforts to secure her extradition, including appeals to Pope John Paul II, Chesimard was added to the FBI's most wanted terrorist list in 2013, highlighting her perceived threat to the U.S. government. In light of the re-establishment of diplomatic relations between the U.S. and Cuba in 2015, this Resolution calls for Cuba to return Chesimard to face justice for the murder of a law enforcement officer.