Bill > SR11

This Resolution, passed by the Senate 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 another trooper during a traffic stop where Chesimard and members of the Black Liberation Army, a radical group, allegedly opened fire. After escaping from prison in 1979, Chesimard fled to Cuba, where she was granted political asylum and has resided since. Despite 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. Given the recent restoration of diplomatic relations between the United States and Cuba, this Resolution calls on Cuba to return Chesimard to face justice for the murder of a law enforcement officer.