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 Detroit
Watson
RESOLUTION BY COUNCIL MEMBER
JoAnn Watson
RESOLUTION FOR U.S. JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
TO WITHDRAW THE 1 MILLION DOLLAR BOUNTY FOR THE CAPTURE OF ASSATA
SHAKUR
WHEREAS
Pervasive and unrelenting police terrorism directed at communities
of color during the 19605 made necessary the formation of The Black
Panther Party for Self-Defense, and
WHEREAS
Numerous dedicated and courageous young people of African ancestry
enlisted in the ranks of the Black Panther Party to monitor and
deter police violence, and to staff community service programs aimed
at providing food, health care, legal assistance, transportation
and other services to Black and other poor people living in poverty,
and
WHEREAS
One of the committed individuals who joined the Black Panther Party
was Assata Shakur, and
WHEREAS
J. Edgar Hoover, then-Director of the FBI, proclaimed that the Black
Panther party was “the greatest threat to the internal security”
of the United States, and
WHEREAS
The FBI commenced an illegal campaign of terror against the Black
Panther Party that came to be known as "COINTELPRO" (Counter-lntel1igence
Program), and
WHEREAS
In the face of increasing government violence directed at the Black
Panther Party, and other activists, Assata Shakur became one of
many targets of government surveillance, harassment and Intimidation,
and
WHEREAS
On May 2, 1973, Shakur and others in a vehicle in which she was
traveling became the victims of racial profiling when they were
stopped on the New Jersey Turnpike, allegedly because of a broken
tail-light, and
WHEREAS
Shakur reported that, during the stop, she was shot twice after
she had complied with the New Jersey State Trooper demand that she
raise her hands, and
WHEREAS
During the stop, fatal gunshot wounds were sustained by a State
Trooper and one of Shakur's companions, and
WHEREAS
Shakur was later charged with both deaths and then tried before
an all-white jury, and
WHEREAS
Notwithstanding the fact that defense lawyers presented objective
medical and other evidence that substantiated Shakur's contention
that her hands were raised when she was shot, she was nevertheless
convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment plus 33 years, and
WHEREAS
Shakur reported that she endured torture and continuing threats
of violence while in the custody of police and prison officials,
and
WHEREAS
Shakur escaped from Clinton Correctional Institution in 1979 after
she concluded that her life was in danger and that she had no hope
of receiving justice, and
WHEREAS
Even though Shakur was ultimately granted political asylum in Cuba,
New Jersey and Federal officials have pursued her relentlessly since
her escape, and
WHEREAS
No extradition treaty exists between the United States and Cuba,
and consequently there are no legal grounds for demanding Shakur's
return to U.S. shores, and
WHEREAS
On May 2,2005, the U.S. Justice Department announced that it is
offering an extraordinary one million dollar bounty for Shakur's
capture, notwithstanding the fact that supporters contend that she
has been repeatedly denied the following and other human rights
recognized under international law: freedom from arbitrary arrest,
detention and exile; freedom from torture, and cruel and inhuman
or degrading treatment; a presumption of innocence at trial; and
the right to seek and to enjoy in other countries asylum from persecution;
and
WHEREAS
The bounty is likely to encourage illegal and W1justifiable kidnapping
attempts that will place Shakur's life in jeopardy, and
WHEREAS
Shakur's supporters have proclaimed Sunday, July 17, 2005 as "International
Hands Off As5sta Day”; NOW THEREFORE BE IT
RESOLVED
That the City Council for the City of Detroit calls upon the U.S.
Justice Department to demonstrate respect for U.s. and intemutiona1law
by immediately withdrawing the offer to pay a one million dollar
bounty for the capture of Assata Shakur; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED
That the City Council for the City of Detroit
proclaims its support for "International Hands Off Assata Day"
on Sunday, July 17,2005.
July 20, 2005
Contact Information
JoAnn Watson
1340 Coleman A. Young Municipal Center
2 Woodward Ave
Detroit, MI 48226
(313) 224-4535 (office)
(313) 224-1524 (fax)
Tell
the Detroit City Council what you think
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