An Open Letter To The Mayor Of Trenton, NJ
Doug Palmer
Dear Mayor Palmer:
Let me introduce myself by saying that Assata
Shakur is my sister, friend, and comrade in the struggle for human
rights of all oppressed people. When three “Freedom
Fighters” boldly took action in 1979 and entered the Clinton
Correctional Facility and liberated Sister Assata from the chains
and shackles of her jailers, I rejoiced. I was proud to be apart
of a generation of young African Americans that were courageous
and committed enough to go up against America and didn’t give
a damn about odds.
Others, and I, along with my late sister/comrade
Ann Evans placed a half–page ad in the New York weekly, “The
Amsterdam News”, affirming our love and support for Sister
Assata and the compatriots who risked their lives. We didn’t
back down then, and we don’t back down now.
The Advertisement in the Amsterdam News
read: “Run, Assata, Run, Stay Strong and Stay Free”,
reflecting the slave song for those who had escaped.
Throughout the Black communities on the East Coast
-- Harlem, Bedford-Stuyvesant, and New Jersey the ad from the Amsterdam
newspaper was cut out and taped to the windows in the homes of a
generation of youth who were politically astute. The message was
clear, and concise, plastered on lamp poles and any other available
space stating, “ASSATA IS WELCOLME HERE.”
Now that you know who I am, and I certainly have
a clue as to who you are. We can in the words of Brother/Minister
Malcolm X, “talk shop.”
At the annual U.S. Conference of Mayors in Chicago,
Illinois, June 10th, 2005 you stepped in on the international affairs
committee discussion on the” normalization of relations with
Cuba”, placing Assata Shakur on the agenda; opposing relations
with “communist Cuba”, until Assata Shakur (Joanne Chesimard)
is returned to the United States of America.
You have taken it upon yourself to provide leadership
by becoming the premier “Black Elected Bounty Hunter”;
assisting the Justice Department in breaking its’ own laws.
Arrogantly and purposely ignoring the fact that Assata was granted
political asylum by President Fidel Castro 28 years ago. Are you
even aware that on any given calendar day the United States of America
grants political asylum to those who defect from Cuba and other
communist countries without interference?
The illegal war that is being carried out by America
in Iraq has led to the captivity and imprisonment of hundreds of
Iraqi citizens, swept up (stolen) from their home land; held in
captivity in Guantanamo in the exact same manner and fashion that
over seas Africans were stolen from the Mother land, held captive
on plantations, first, in the southern states of democratic America.
Your willingness to “hunt” Assata down in light of this
country’s history of “kidnapping” is reminiscent
of those “house niggas” during slavery that loved their
masters more than they loved themselves, or freedom.
Assata Shakur is no different than Sister Harriet
Tubman. She did not ask to come here. In fact, if memory serves
me right, it was the USA government that said to the young dissenting
youth of the 60’s who raised their voices in protest- “Love
it (America) or leave it”. With a few good friends Assata
left it. What else is a slave to do?
I am not here to argue Assata’s case. I am
here to say that the many critical domestic problems facing the
mayors of the USA, and especially Black mayors of urban cities,
one would think the focus would be placed upon solving “some”
of the more basic problems of the people you and others were elected
to serve.
Assata Shakur is not your constituent’s problem.
If Assata were returned from Cuba tomorrow (under your advocacy)
it would not change the racist policies that rule the construction
unions (among others) in Trenton, New Jersey, that keep people of
color out. Nor would the “return” of Assata have an
impact on your city and state high unemployment rate among Black
adult males and poor youth of every color; or provide health care
for the hundred of thousands of uninsured Jersey residentss. Nor
would her “illegal slave captivity” solve Trenton’s
youth gang problem in your city. You tell me what purpose would
the “illegal kidnapping of Assata Shakur” benefit the
people of your city. I do however suspect that it would benefit
your political career.
A million dollar bounty split three ways between
you, the USA government and a hired mercenary reminds me of the
auction block:
“Bid ‘em in, bid ‘em in...
I don’t have to wonder about how much they
paid the slave to sell the slave, I think I know.
Hands Off Assata,
Mae Jackson |