This week on “The Joe Budden Podcast,” Dr. Marc Lamont Hill gave listeners a historical past lesson in honor of Assata Shakur’s passing final week. Whereas paying his respects to the late political activist, Hill shared little-known info about Shakur, often known as Joanne Chesimard.
“For those who don’t know, Assata Shakur was a former Black Panther, a former member of the Black Liberation Military, who was one among many individuals because of the COINTELPRO authorities counterintelligence program, was surveilled, and was railroaded,” Hill shared. “She was accused of plenty of issues, homicide, financial institution theft, kidnapping, and so forth. She was acquitted thrice.”
Hill additionally went on to debate her notorious case during which she was charged and convicted of murdering New Jersey State trooper Werner Foerster in a shootout on the New Jersey Turnpike on Might 2, 1973.
“She was additionally tried and convicted in absentia for the homicide of a New Jersey State Trooper. The medical proof proved that she didn’t do it. She truly was paralyzed within the arm that they mentioned that she shot [with],” he defined. “She was arrested, she was convicted. She was positioned in jail. She was the primary girl to be positioned in a males’s jail in US historical past.”
Whereas at Middlesex jail and Clinton Correctional in New Jersey, Shakur was tortured, Hill defined. Hill, like many Black individuals, describes Shakur as his hero.
“Assata stands as a determine of energy and chance for therefore many people,” he mirrored earlier than diving into some of the enduring components of her historical past. In 1979, Shakur escaped jail and has been sought by the US since. Nonetheless, Hill defined that she didn’t do it alone.
“Now that she’s handed, I really feel a little bit bit extra comfy speaking about what occurred, however it’s not my place to inform the entire story. However individuals broke in, freed her, together with Sekou Odinga, who handed away earlier this yr,” Hill shared. “They freed her out of the jail, and he or she escaped to Cuba, the place she obtained diplomatic immunity and has stayed in Cuba for the final 4 many years. Shout out to the Cuban authorities for shielding her and retaining her secure, although New Jersey tried to carry her again many, many instances. They’ve had her on the FBI terrorist listing for many years now. She’s the primary girl to be on there, however she stayed free.”
He continued: “She’s been a large in hip hop. If a few of y’all take heed to “Insurgent And not using a Trigger” if you hear Chuck D say that he helps Chesimard, he’s speaking about Joanne Chesimard, who’s Assata Shakur. While you hear “A Music for Assata” on “Like Water for Chocolate” [by Common], they’re speaking about Assata Shakur. When Black August Hip Hop went to Cuba that first time they made the journey, they visited Assata. Tupac additionally referred to her as Auntie Assata.”
On September 25, 2025, Assata Shakur reportedly died as a result of well being illnesses and her superior age, in response to the Cuban Ministry of International Affairs. Her daughter, Kakuya Shakur, later confirmed the information on Fb.
“Assata was a legend and a mentor and a useful resource to so many people. Though she remained hidden in Cuba, particularly within the later years, she simply stands tall and powerful, and I’m grateful that she was capable of reside free and die free,” Hill concluded. “So we are saying at all times fingers off Assata, at all times free all political prisoners, at all times like to Assata. So we are saying relaxation in peace as she returns to the ancestors.”
