The Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), the political party of Zohran Mamdani, has recently come under scrutiny for its public mourning of Assata Shakur.
Shakur, a former member of the Black Panther Party and one of the FBI's most wanted terrorists, was convicted for the murder of a New Jersey state trooper in 1973. After escaping prison with the help of her comrades, she found refuge in Cuba, where she was granted asylum by the communist dictator, Fidel Castro.
The DSA, whose prominent members include Mamdani and Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D., N.Y.), took to social media to express their condolences. "Rest in Power, Assata Shakur," the socialist group wrote, attributing the oppression Shakur and her fellow Black Panther Party members faced to the "American state."
According to The Washington Free Beacon, the DSA has previously claimed responsibility for propelling Mamdani to victory in the New York City mayoral Democratic primary.
Shakur's death, at the age of 78 from natural causes, was confirmed by the Cuban foreign ministry. Her passing has sparked a wave of controversy, particularly due to the DSA's support, which has raised questions about Mamdani's past radical statements on police and Israel. Mamdani, who once advocated for defunding the police, has since distanced himself from this stance.
He initially refused to condemn the chant, "Globalize the intifada," perceived by many as an incitement to attack Jewish people, but later stated he would "discourage" its use.
Mamdani's campaign has remained silent on his views regarding Shakur. Meanwhile, other prominent figures such as Reps. Summer Lee (D., Pa.), Ayanna Pressley (D., Mass.), and Yvette Clarke (D., N.Y.), chair of the Congressional Black Caucus (CBC), have joined in expressing their support for Shakur.
Clarke stated, "If there is a single truth in this world, it is that Assata died a free woman," while Pressley echoed similar sentiments during a CBC event.
Shakur's legacy also received tributes from the Chicago Teachers Union and Janai Nelson, president of the NAACP Legal Defense and Educational Fund, who referred to Shakur as a "freedom fighter" and an "example of undaunted resistance."
Shakur's involvement with the Black Panther Party began in 1970, and she later joined its more radical offshoot, the Black Liberation Army. A 1991 FBI report revealed the Black Liberation Army's primary goals were to "kill cops," "seize control of their communities and liberate black people from repression," and to "expropriate funds from the capitalists and imperialists" to finance "the revolution."
Shakur was implicated in several bank robberies in the early 1970s and was a suspect in a 1971 grenade attack that injured two New York City Police Department officers.
The FBI placed Shakur on its "most wanted terrorist" list following her escape from prison. This escape was allegedly facilitated by members of the Black Liberation Army and the May 19th Communist Organization, including Susan Rosenberg, a ringleader of the May 19 Coalition.
Rosenberg has recently made donations to the campaigns of Lee, Ocasio-Cortez, and Rep. Jerry Nadler (D., N.Y.).
The support for Shakur stands in stark contrast to the response to the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, allegedly assassinated by Tyler Robinson, a 21-year-old Utah man who embraced left-wing and pro-transgender political causes. The CBC rejected a resolution last week condemning Kirks death, arguing that the bill was "an attempt to legitimize Kirks worldviewa worldview that includes ideas many Americans find racist, harmful, and fundamentally un-American."
This incident underscores the ideological divide that continues to shape American politics, with the DSA's support for Shakur highlighting the party's radical leanings. As Mamdani and his party navigate these contentious waters, their stance on figures like Shakur will undoubtedly continue to draw scrutiny.
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