Assata Shakur Cause of Death: Black Liberation Activist Dies in Cuba at 78

Assata Shakur, the Black liberation activist who escaped a U.S. prison in 1979 and lived in exile in Cuba, has died at the age of 78. Cuban officials confirmed she died Thursday in Havana due to “health conditions and advanced age.” Her daughter, Kakuya Shakur, shared the news in a Facebook post.

Shakur, born Joanne Deborah Chesimard, was one of the most wanted fugitives in the United States. Her death closes a decades-long chapter of tension between Washington and Havana, where she had been granted political asylum after her prison escape.

Assata Shakur’s Cause of Death and Life in Exile

Cuba’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said Assata Shakur died of health-related complications tied to her age. She had lived quietly in Havana since the 1980s, after fleeing U.S. authorities. The Associated Press and Reuters reported that Cuban officials confirmed her death on September 26, 2025.

Shakur rose to prominence in the 1970s as a member of the Black Panther Party and the Black Liberation Army. She was convicted in 1977 for the murder of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster after a 1973 traffic stop turned deadly. Shakur maintained her innocence, saying she was shot with her hands raised during the confrontation.

She escaped from New Jersey’s Clinton Correctional Facility in 1979 when armed members of the Black Liberation Army broke her out. By 1984, she surfaced in Cuba, where then-President Fidel Castro granted her asylum. U.S. authorities — including the FBI and multiple presidents — repeatedly demanded her extradition, labeling her a “most wanted terrorist.” Cuba refused, framing her as a victim of racial and political persecution.

Her autobiography “Assata,” published in 1988, became an essential text for activists and was widely quoted during the Black Lives Matter movement. Her words — “It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win” — inspired a new generation of racial justice advocates.

Legacy, Reactions, and Political Impact

Her death sparked mixed reactions. Black Lives Matter Grassroots Inc. vowed to continue her fight for justice. Early movement organizer Malkia Amala Cyril said Shakur’s “radical love and courage” remain vital in times of rising authoritarianism. Hip-hop artists, including Public Enemy and rapper Common, long celebrated her as a symbol of resistance.

However, U.S. law enforcement leaders expressed frustration that she died without facing additional punishment. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy and State Police Superintendent Patrick Callahan said they would oppose any effort to bring her remains to the U.S., noting Trooper Foerster “never had the chance to live out his days in peace.”

For Cuba, Shakur’s asylum embodied its Cold War-era support for revolutionary movements. Her story symbolized defiance against U.S. policies while shaping debates on race, policing, and political exile for decades.

Assata Shakur’s cause of death was linked to age and declining health. Her passing ends one of the most famous political exiles in modern U.S.-Cuba relations, but her influence on activism and culture will continue to resonate.

FYI (keeping you in the loop)-

Q1: What was Assata Shakur’s cause of death?

She died in Havana from health-related complications linked to advanced age, according to Cuban officials.

Q2: Where did Assata Shakur live after escaping prison?

She lived in Cuba after Fidel Castro granted her political asylum in 1984.

Q3: Why was Assata Shakur wanted by the FBI?

She was convicted of murdering New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster in 1977 and escaped prison in 1979.

Q4: How did Assata Shakur influence Black Lives Matter?

Her writings and speeches inspired activists, especially her call to fight for freedom and justice.

Q5: What was Assata Shakur’s birth name?

Her birth name was Joanne Deborah Chesimard.