This collection highlights the Black Liberation Army (BLA), an underground Marxist-Leninist organization that operated in the United States from 1970-1981. BLA was primarily made up of former Black Panthers and Republic of New Afrika members. The organization's goal was to “take up arms for the liberation and self-determination of Black people in the United States” and they openly declared war on the United States government. Former Black Panther Party member and Jackson State University professor Frankye Adams-Johnson’s Black Panther Party Collection includes many items associated with the BLA such as newspaper clippings, BLA newsletters, drafts of speeches, position papers, and more. These materials offer a rare glimpse into the inner workings of this underground organization.
Curated By
Garrad Lee
Contributing Institution
Jackson State University
About This Record
The HCAC public history focused digital archive cataloging is an ongoing process, and we may update this record as we conduct additional research and review. We welcome your comments and feedback if you have more information to share about an item featured on the site, please contact us at: HCAC-DigiTeam@si.edu
A newspaper article from The Rutgers Daily-Targum about the defense team for Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard), who was on trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper, opening their case by calling for dismissal of the murder charge on the grounds that she cannot be convicted since Clark Squire has already been convicted of the killing.
A newspaper article from The News Tribune about defense attorneys for Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) filing suit to move her trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper to the federal court. They contend that her civil rights are being violated in at least two ways. The litigation came during jury selection.
A newspaper article from Home News about chemical and neutron activation tests both being inconclusive on the matter of whether Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard), the other defendants, or the state trooper had fired the gun in question in Shakur’s trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper.
A newspaper article from The News Tribune about Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) being in New Jersey to stand trial for the May 1973 killing of a state trooper. Shakur was convicted in 1977 of killing the state trooper during a shootout, escaped prison in 1979, and is still wanted by the FBI.
A newspaper article from The Home News about the all white jury in the murder trial of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. Courts have decided that the jury selection is fair since the selections are made from voter registration rolls. Shakur was convicted in 1977 of the killing and escaped prison in 1979.
A newspaper article from The Star Ledger about bullet fragments the prosecution is putting into evidence in what they hope is the last week in their case against Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. Defense attorneys questioned if the fragments were marked on the scene in an unusual way.
A newspaper article from The Star Ledger about the defense team for Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) being rejected in their motion to have a mistrial called after disturbances in the courtroom on March 2, 1977, during Shakur’s trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. The article also discusses physical evidence presented by the prosecution.
A newspaper article from The News Tribune about the defense team for Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard), on trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper, being denied calling an extra ballistics witness by the judge. The prosecution contended the witness was not valid since the defense team missed the cutoff date to add witnesses to their list.
A newspaper article from the Star Ledger about the defense team in Assata Shakur's (JoAnne Chesimard) trial being denied a motion to suppress evidence found in the car after the May 1973 shootout. Shakur was convicted in 1977 of killing the state trooper during a shootout, escaped prison in 1979, and is still wanted by the FBI.
A newspaper article from The Home News about Lennox Hinds, president of the National Conference of Black Lawyers, being cited by The Ethics Committee of the Middlesex County Bar Association for statements he made to the press against critics of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard), who was on trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper.
A newspaper article from The Star Ledger detailing the testimony Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) gave during her trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. In her testimony, she claimed her innocence and gave her account of what happened that day.
A newspaper article from The News Tribune detailing the testimony Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) gave during her trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. In her testimony, given during 20 minutes of questioning by the defense and 90 minutes of cross-examination, she denied shooting anyone and gave her account of what happened that day.
A newspaper article from The New Jersey Afro-American about Superior Court Judge Theodore Appleby barring the testimony of an FBI agent and senator in the trial of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. Attorney William Kunstler wanted to use the testimony to establish a police conspiracy against Black militants.
A newspaper article from The Star Ledger about Superior Court Judge Theodore Appleby postponing jury selection for the murder trial of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) for the 1973 killing of a state trooper until September after her new defense team was late to file pre-trial motions.
A newspaper article from The News Tribune about items entered into evidence by the prosecution in the Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. The slain trooper’s bloodied uniform shirt was submitted into evidence, as well as bullet fragments pulled from the body, autopsy photos, and two firearms.
A newspaper article from The Star-Ledger about the testimony of defense witness Dr. David Spain during the trial of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. He testified about the wounds she sustained, arguing that she couldn’t have shot from a crouching position due to the position of her wounds from the shootout.
A newspaper article from The News Tribune about the testimony of defense witness Dr. Arthur Turner Davidson, a surgeon with emphasis on traumatic surgery, during the trial of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. He goes into detail about the injuries Shakur and the others sustained in the shootout.
An article from Daily News about Lennox Hinds, president of the National Conference of Black Lawyers, speaking out against his critics for his support of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) after being cited by The Ethics Committee of the Middlesex County Bar Association during Shakur’s trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper.
A memo from the Black Liberation Army (BLA) explaining recent killings of cops and outlining ways the people can fight back against different oppressors. The author writes that police officers are capitalist’s henchmen and gives examples and names of people in the Black community who have been murdered by the police.
A memo from the Black Liberation Army (BLA) countering lies spread by the media about BLA committing crimes like robbing a grocery store in Harlem for $80 and randomly murdering people. The author writes that the BLA are revolutionary guerillas, not criminals and lists some of the things they take credit for: killing police, robbing banks, etc.
A memo from the Ungamana Tribe of the Black Liberation Army (BLA) eulogizing Dedane Olugbala a/k/a Zayd Malik Shakur, a BLA member who was killed by the police on May 2, 1973. He was minister of information of the New York Black Panther Party. The memo states that the time has come for retaliation against racist police violence.
A communique from the Black Liberation Army (BLA) mourning the deaths of BLA members Anthony "Kimu" White and Woody Greene who were both killed by police. The author argues that the racist American system caused this to happen and that the spirits of White and Greene will live on in the new BLA assault teams to be named in their honor.
A memo by Black Panther Party leader, co-founder of the Black Liberation Army (BLA), and political prisoner Dhoruba Bin Wahd (Richard Moore) arguing that it is the duty of the people to put an end to the plague of drugs in the Black community by providing no quarter for for drug profiteers since corrupt police won't do anything about the problem.
A newspaper article from The Home News about ammunition found in a purse and suitcase found in the car driven by Clark Squire and occupied by Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard). Shakur was on trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper and Squire had previously been convicted of the crime in a separate trial.
A newspaper article from The Star Ledger about Assata Shakur's (JoAnne Chesimard) return to the Middlesex County Jail from Rikers Island Prison to stand trial for the May 1973 killing of a state trooper. Shakur was convicted in 1977 of killing the state trooper during a shootout, escaped prison in 1979, and is still wanted by the FBI.
A newspaper article from The Home News about a 133 page report from American Foundation, Inc., Institute of Corrections that recommends a host of changes for the Middlesex County Workhouse and county jail after finding both facilities "fall far short" of standards for prisons.
A newspaper article from The News Tribune about testimony in the Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. The prosecution objected to Shakur taking a photograph of her daughter to the stand for her testimony, and the judge upheld the objection on the grounds he felt it might sway the jury.
A newspaper article from The New York Times about the testimony of defense witness Dr. David Spain during the trial of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. He testified that the scar from a bullet hole on the body of Shakur shows that her arm was raised high in the direction of the gun that shot her.
A newspaper article from The New Jersey Afro-American about Judge Theodore Appleby barring the testimony of an FBI agent and senator. Chief defense attorney William Kunstler wanted to use the testimony to establish a police conspiracy against Black militants in the trial of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) for the 1973 killing of a state trooper.
A newspaper article from The Home News about the murder trial of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. She will remain in solitary confinement at least until U.S. District Court Judge George Barlow returns from vacation at the end of August to take action on the motion to move her to women's general population.
