Praising peaceful protesters are one thing; elevating killers to the status of "hero" is another.

If these two people are indeed being "Framed" by the Gov't (I really doubt it, Guillermo Morales lost fingers while making a Bomb!), they should come back and fight it in court.

Pulling the name from this Student Center is the right thing to do.

"Shake the very foundation of the U.S" is just so easy to say especially when it costs other people their lives.

Assata's autobiography is one of the most moving books I've ever read, and based on her experiences, I'd say she deserves at least a small room named after her. People - including the AP - need to learn more about her before calling her a killer.

http://www.assatashakur.org/

Everyone should learn both sides of the story before jumping to any conclusions about this woman.

*Everyone should learn both sides of the story before jumping to any conclusions about this woman.*

Yeah! Everyone should learn both sides of the story about Al Qaeda before jumping to conclusions about them.

Like you rich whiny whities would ever set foot in CCNY or that lounge.
Or, even take the A train up there.
Please, don't make me laff.
viva la revolution. Just keep drinking your frat beers.

if you asked a native american, for example, how many schools, buildings, statues have been erected to honor "terrorists?"

I was a founding member of SLAM in 1996, a student at Hunter College and one of many, many New Yorkers who respects Assata Shakur for her many contributions.

She is free in Cuba. The American government openly tortures people in a literal concentration camp they maintain against the wishes of the Cuban government and in shameless violation of the Geneva Convention.

But we're debating Assata, right?

Let's get real about who the "terrorists" are.

Assata Shakur never killed anyone, not even the Fraternal Order of Police claims she pulled a trigger.

While Pat Lynch, defender of Amadou Diallo's killers and Abner Louima's rapist torturers gets respectful coverage in the Daily News and Fox's myriad tentacles – it is exactly his hypocrisy in selective endorsement of violence that is at issue.

After all, how many members of the NYPD gave money to Sinn Fein, or Irish Northern Relief?

Isn't "Homeland Security" honcho Rep. Peter King a longtime friend of Sinn Fein?

Seriously.

So while Pat Lynch and Peter King rail about "terrorists," maybe they should look in the mirror.

Hundreds of Panthers were framed up, driven into exile, maligned in the media as part of now-exposed government operation called Cointelpro. It was started by J. Edgar Hoover and illegalized even peaceful organizations – driving many to radicalism.

Assata beat them. She is at liberty – and loved right here in New York... and the more scum like the PBA and FOP demonize her... the more we love her.

Stay Free Assata!

A wall is just a wall
and nothing more at all...

It can be broken down.

------

Easy solution: Let the students of CCNY decide through a democratic election what they shall name not just that room, but the entire NAC student center... What right does the board of trustees have to over-ride student democracy?

I'm glad they are going to fix this; now we just need to get Nelson Mandela and Yasser Arafat's Nobel "peace" prizes repossessed since they are both terrorists as well.

Burning man - well though out response, with a reasonable conclusion, thank you.

sergey- almost nonsensical spam-like two sentence post. not to mention a shameless plug to your 'xanga'. did someone forget to tell you that shit if for 11 year old girls?

also, why can't they name it after someone who was more productive, like Shirley Chisholm?

You think "communist idealists" are a dying breed?

Well, let me say it again: Assata Shakur is free and a million dollar bounty hasn't killed her yet.

Celebrate.

When students stood up for accessible education at CCNY – They respected and loved Assata, too. So, from 1970 to 1989 to right now, this "dying breed" is here and growing, while chumpchange brownshirts like Sergei hide behind the skirts of a Pataki-appointed Board of Trustees.

What did Dead Prez say?

"Get free or die trying."

Right... democracy in government... That's why the troops are coming right home after that last election...

But, following the logic of your logic, this would be akin to the now forgotten Savings & Loan scandal of the Reagan/Bush era – when HUNDREDS of banks were robbed by the very people who owned them.

If THAT'S democracy in action, no wonder there are outlaws.

"You think "communist idealists" are a dying breed?"
In the US, Absolutely. Tell me, Does the American Communist Party still march into the NAC Cafeteria on May Day and attempt to rally the early morning students to their cause? It was an amusing sign of Spring.

"a million dollar bounty hasn't killed her yet."?
Well, I don't think it's a "Wanted: Dead or Alive" bounty. Do you suppose she'll still be safe after Fidel Castro dies? When Cuba and the US normalize relations (50 years too late!) I'm betting she goes into hiding in Cuba.

"brownshirts"?
Riiiiight.

How about a little less propaganda and more facts? Even if she did not kill Officer Foerster, she participated in the events that led to his death and the death of Zayd Shakur.

Robbing the "Rich", "Shaking up society", fighting the "Pigs" is all very romantic, but normal people suffer for it.

All call for action!

Dear Community Members:

As you may have seen or heard in the media over the
past 36 hours, the Guillermo Morales/ Assata Shakur
Community and Student Center at City College is under
attack. The Center was the product of struggle, waged
by many people of African and Latino heritage who
chose to name it after Guillermo Morales and Assata
Shakur. The contributions of these activists to the
fight for social justice is recognized through the
Center's name and their standing in the broader
community.

We are aware of the experience these individuals had
with the criminal
justice system. It is crucial to state that Assata
Shakur, whose reputation is currently being spun by
the Daily News and other media
outlets, was wrongfully convicted of killing a NJ
State Trooper
according to irrefutable physical evidence. We believe
in her innocence, and choose to continue honoring her
commitment to the struggle for racial justice by
defending the center's name for the last 17 years.

We need the community's support in asserting our right
to name the
Center after Assata Shakur and to resist any attempt
to undermine that
right At the meeting, community members can expect an
introduction to the Center's work over the years and
thorough explanation of the
current persecution.

We hope for a discussion of how we can collaborate and
assure our
mutual goals. Ultimately, we wish to open up City
College to the
community using the Morales/Shakur Center as a bridge.

Friday December 15 7:30pm
Morales/Shakur Community & Student Center
City College
North Academic Center (NAC) 3/201
(212) 650-5008
train: A,B,C,D to 145 st. walk down Convent; 1 to 137
st. walk up hill
to Amsterdam
bus: M100, M101 to 137; M4, M5 to 137, walk up to
Amsterdam

Looking forward to a constructive dialogue
Guillermo Morales/Assata Shakur Community Center
Students for Educational Rights (SER)
Student Liberation Action Movement (SLAM!)

Roberto, a few notes:
You said

"was wrongfully convicted of killing a NJ State Trooper according to irrefutable physical evidence."

I also find it Odd that you make no mention of Guillermo Morales being a FALN bomber.

I'll go out on a limb here: Would I be mistaken to assume you Don't support Bombings as a means of political discourse? You don'tthink blowing up people is "constructive dialogue", do you?

IMO, You and others have chosen odd people to admire and idolize.

One last note on the idealists... Okay, two:

Cynicism is just idealism for assholes.

And... Let's just remember that whatever notions you have of the 1930s at CCNY, the student center at CCNY is currently named after Assata Shakur.

Those who oppose this naming are afraid of a democratic decision of the student body on the matter and would prefer that government figures impose their dictate.

Opps forgot to post it on the text part.

http://www.petitiononline.com/assata/petition.html

"the burningman", I've got one better:
A conservative is a Liberal who got punched in the face once too often.

In case it was pointed at me; I'm not a Cynic, I just think it's wrong to idolize violence.

Let's just remember that whatever notions you have of the 1930s at CCNY, her and Guillermo Morales crimes took place in the 1970's.

"Those who oppose this naming are afraid of a democratic decision of the student body on the matter and would prefer that government figures impose their dictate."?

Democratic Decision? Did I miss something? Was a vote held to rename that series of rooms on the 3rd Floor? Again, your spouting propaganda.

Roberto, you want a dialog, here it is. Don't run away from it an ignore valid questions under the excuse of Racism.

Student Democracy! Did you seem to forget that this is a publicly funded school? Do you think this is your little fiefdom where the overbearing liberals get to censor any opposition? Even if you can get away with it now, enjoy it while you can, before you realize what a pathetic misfit you are and how you will never amount to anything after college because everyone else has grown up and hasn't got the time to protest every perceived slight.

Have a good time earning your financially WORTHLESS degree in black history.

Assata Shakur is a revolutionary, mother, poet, artist. A beautiful woman who fought for oppressed people all across the country.

One day she and her friends Sundiata Acoli,and Zyed Shakur were pulled over by NJ state troopers. They defended themselves against what was more than likely an attack on their lives. Assata's friend and a NJ state trooper were killed that night. Assata was wounded twice and one shot left her paralyze in her arm for months .Sundiata escaped (only 2 be captured soon.) in the hospital she was beaten and tortured ( I've seen pictures proving it) by the NJ state police. She was held in the basement of a Mens correctional facility for years before being tried by an all white Jury ( come ooooon dammit it was the 1970s at that!) . Her inhumane treatment during that time can be captured in her autobiography ASSATA. She escaped to Cuba where she is currently in exhile.....

Human rights and community groups cite examples that demonstrate the potentially fatal consequences of "driving while black." In 1995, Jonny Gammage (cousin of professional football player Ray Seals) was driving his luxury car through a Pittsburgh suburb when police stopped him. The officers crushed Gammage, who died of asphyxiation. Six years ago, Archie Elliott, a black motorist, was stopped by police in Prince Georges County, Maryland. The police handcuffed Elliott, placed him in the front passenger seat of their patrol car, and shot him 14 times. In North Carolina, a young man named Kenneth Fennell was killed in 1994 by a North Carolina state trooper who claimed that the 23-year-old accounting student was a drug dealer.

More recently, the New Jersey state police have come under fire for the racial profiling of African American motorists. According to the U.S. Justice Department, 72% of drivers stopped by the New Jersey police are black, although African-Americans make up only a small fraction of total drivers. Last year, two troopers patrolling the New Jersey Turnpike fired 11 shots into a van carrying four men of color. As a result of an outcry from the Black community, the Justice Department has begun an investigation into the State Police, whose commissioner was fired recently for making racially insensitive remarks.

http://www.democracynow.org/article.pl?sid=03/04/07/0358227

Wow, when she robbed the church at gunpoint in Brooklyn was she afraid that a bigoted priest was going to kill her?

I will now offer 5 comments from the 5 "proofs" that Assata Shakur is innocent:

"- The finger print analyses of every gun and every piece of ammunition found at the scene showed that there were no fingerprints of Assata found on any of them."
Because it was impossible that they were wiped down, right?

"- Neutron Activation Analysis showed there was no gunpowder residue on her hands effectively refuting the possibility that she had fired a gun."
Very High tech, but when was it done? How long after the murder?

"- Assata was shot under her armpit by NJ State Trooper James Harper, severely wounding and paralyzing her."
And yet, she fled for several days. Was both arms shot and Paralyzed?

"- A surgeon testified that “it was anatomically necessary that both arms be in the air for Ms. Chesimard [Assata Shakur] to have received the wounds that she did."
I don't know about that. Even if true, it doesn't testify if she shot anyone or participated in that murder.

Based on both accounts: In my very unqualified opinion, Here is what I think happened: She and her colleagues got out with guns drawn.

This wasn't a "Police Murder Squad", it was just a car being pulled over. I'm sorry but acting belligerent and getting out of a car with guns drawn is an excellent reason for the police to open fire.

This entire tragic situation would never have happened if Assata Shakur and her colleagues did not pull out weapons. Which begs the question: Where they wanted prior to being pulled over? Could it be that the motivation for drawing a gun on police officers was not be "Revolution" but the desire not to get caught?

Roberto, are you still calling for the "Student Center" to be named after Guillermo Morales too?

Don't keep running away from the tough questions: Do you or Don't you support Bombings as a means of political discourse? Do you think blowing up people is "constructive dialogue", do you?
Do you support murder as "political expression"?

If so, you and GW Bush have too much in common.

RR (Roberto? I doubt it, but I could be wrong) a few comments:
"GWB invaded Iraq and used extreme amount of violence for political change. Killed thousands of Iraqis and US soldiers."
Absolutely and I think it was wrong too.

"Truman dropped a nuclear bomb on Japan, should we re-name anything with his name?"
Actually, I think they did. In any case, it's one thing killing someone during a war that was started against you (Japan attacked us first, remember?) another to kill a police officer for just pulling you over.

After that you seem to degrade into one hell of a run on sentence, among other things.

Let me see if I follow:
We're talking about "The Guillermo Morales/Assata Shakur Community Center", you respond by

1. Implying that GW Bush was correct. (Or did I read it wrong?)
2. Mention Pres. Truman dropping the Atom Bomb.
3. Mention the deplorable fact that some of our founding fathers had Slaves and suggest we take their names off things.
4. Mention Columbus but leave out that he petitioned Queen Isabella to enslave the locals. (She said NO, BTW)
5. Mention Civil rights era assassinations (Acts of terrorism)
6. Etc.

Let me summarize: You think anyone who disagrees with you is a "racist bigot".

A Very mature dialog. It's my sincere hope your not an example of a college student in CCNY today.

SD-

Don't worry about Roberto. When someone is losing a debate, changing the topic and name-calling show desperation. Most CCNY students are hardworking and motivated to succeed in life. In fact, most go to class and then to work. You won't find much partying or fraternities on my campus- we are all busy studying. I love my college, in spite of the few radicals who are ruining its reputation.

Armed Man Shot Dead By Police, 5th Police Shooting In A Month

http://www.ny1.com/ny1/content/index.jsp?stid=12&aid=65076

Overall, in 2005, Blacks made up 40 percent of all inmates--three times larger than their proportion in the U.S. population. According to the Sentencing Project, in seven states--Iowa, Vermont, New Jersey, Connecticut, Wisconsin, North Dakota and South Dakota--African Americans are incarcerated at more than 10 times the rate of whites.

Assata Shakur

Assata Shakur was one of many revolutionaries in the U.S. driven into exile in the 1960s and ’70s. She has been living in Cuba since 1984 and is also the godmother of the late Tupac Shakur.

During the 1960s, Assata participated in the Black liberation movement, the student movement and the struggle against the Vietnam War. She became a member of the Black Panther Party in New Jersey.

On May 2, 1973, Assata and fellow Panther members were pulled over by the New Jersey state police. An unarmed Assata was shot twice--and then charged with murder of a white police officer. She was convicted by an all-white jury and sentenced to life plus 33 years in prison. She spent six-and-a-half years behind bars before escaping from the Clinton Correctional Facitlity for Women in 1979.

“[F]earing that I would be murdered in prison, and knowing that I would never receive any justice, I was liberated from prison, aided by committed comrades who understood the depths of the injustices in my case, and who were also extremely fearful for my life,” she said.

The federal government continues to pursue Assata. Last May, Attorney General Alberto Gonzalez authorized a $1 million bounty “for information leading to the return” of Assata Shakur.