Cop Killer Assata Shakur Praised by Left-Leaning TEACHER Groups, Sparks Political Backlash

NOTE: The writer is using a pseudonym to protect his identity and to ensure the safety of his family due to the violent background of Chesimard's supporters.

EAST ORANGE, NJ- In 1973, Joanne Chesimard, a member of the Black Liberation Army, participated in the murder of New Jersey state trooper Werner Foerster in cold blood during a shootout on the New Jersey Turnpike. Chesimard, who would later change her name to Assata Shakur, was convicted for her part in Trooper Foerster’s murder. She was sentenced to life in prison. 

Chesimard claimed that the FBI had targeted her for assassination due to her participation in the black militant group, which she claimed was a “widespread campaign” to target those anti-American groups. 

In 1979, Chesimard escaped from prison and found her way to Cuba, where in 1984, communist dictator Fidel Castro granted her asylum. This past weekend, Chesimard thankfully consumed the last oxygen in her life and assumed room temperature. Most right-thinking Americans applauded her long-overdue demise. 

Not East Orange, New Jersey, however. In a Facebook post, the city hall quoted a CNN article about Chesimard’s death with a caption on top reading, “May Assat [sic] Shakur [Chesimard] rest in her power.” One might think that if you’re going to honor a murdering savage, you might get her name correct. Clearly, whoever is running the city’s social media page is an uninformed stooge. 

Understandably, most normal politicians, recognizing what a monster Chesimard was, slammed groups that praised her murderous life when living in the US, including outgoing New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy (D), who called a post from the Chicago Teachers Union “shameful and depraved” in a post on X, The New York Post reported. 

“She was convicted of the murder [of] New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster, who was executed in cold blood,” Murphy wrote. “There are so many worthy heroes to celebrate. She is not one of them.” 

Many other New Jersey lawmakers also weighed in, with the notable exception of one. New Jersey Democratic gubernatorial hopeful Mikie Sherrill notably posted nothing about Trooper Foerster by Sunday afternoon, and refused to respond to The New York Post’s request for comment. 

While Republican candidate Jack Ciattarelli didn’t post about Trooper Foerster on social media, he did issue a statement:

“Praising the murderer of Trooper Foerster is disgraceful. Here in New Jersey, people from all sides of the political spectrum have condemned the attack–except for my opponent,” he said. 

“Mike Sherrill cannot even bring herself to acknowledge Trooper Foerster’s death as she runs to appease the radical left. Both Mikie and CTU should be ashamed of themselves,” he said, referring to the Chicago Teachers Union. 

Speaking of the Chicago Teachers Union, which represents those we entrust to teach our children, they also took to Facebook and posted the following:

“Rest in Power, Rest in Peace, Assata Shakur.

“Today we honor the life and legacy of a revolutionary fighter, a fierce writer, a revered elder of Black liberation, and a leader of freedom whose spirit continues to live in our struggle. 

“Assata refused to be silenced. She taught us that ‘It is our duty to fight for our freedom. It is our duty to win. We must love each other and support each other. We have nothing to lose but our chains.” 

The comments on Facebook were overwhelmingly critical of the post honoring a murdering piece of human debris who was no doubt welcomed into a very hot place when she ceased wasting precious oxygen. 

In case you're wondering, the teachers in Chicago are doing a lousy job carrying out their primary duty, which is educating our children. For the 2023-24 school year, only 30.5% of third through eighth-grade students met reading proficiency standards, while just 18.3% met math proficiency standards. 

Perhaps if the Chicago teachers spent more time teaching and advocating for their students instead of glorifying a criminal, the children might benefit. 

Among other groups paying tribute to Chesimard was the Democratic Socialists of America, which wrote, "We vow to honor her legacy by recognizing our duty to fight for our freedom to win, to love and protect one another because we have nothing to lose but our chains." 

The DSA, it should be noted, has endorsed Zohran Mamdani for New York City mayor, although he's attempting to "distance" himself from the group, The New York Times reported.