IV 
118TH CONGRESS 
2D SESSION 
H. RES. 1120 
Condemning Joanne Chesimard and those who celebrate her and her actions, 
and honoring the law enforcement members killed by her and groups 
she was connected to. 
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 
APRIL 9, 2024 
Mr. D’ESPOSITO submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the 
Committee on the Judiciary, and in addition to the Committee on For-
eign Affairs, for a period to be subsequently determined by the Speaker, 
in each case for consideration of such provisions as fall within the juris-
diction of the committee concerned 
RESOLUTION 
Condemning Joanne Chesimard and those who celebrate her 
and her actions, and honoring the law enforcement mem-
bers killed by her and groups she was connected to. 
Whereas Joanne Chesimard, also known as Assata Shakur, is 
a convicted murderer and member of the Black Libera-
tion Army, a violent guerilla group whose tactics were in-
spired by movements abroad; 
Whereas Chesimard was involved in numerous assaults and 
robberies through her leadership in the Black Liberation 
Army, including bank robberies in Queens, Brooklyn, and 
the Bronx, hand grenade attacks against New York Po-
lice Department (‘‘NYPD’’) officers, and an armed rob-
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bery at Our Lady of the Presentation Church in Browns-
ville; 
Whereas Chesimard has been connected to numerous murders 
of NYPD officers, including being a leader of a Black 
Liberation Army cell that carried out execution-style 
murders of officers between 1971 and 1972; 
Whereas, on May 2, 1973, Chesimard murdered New Jersey 
State Trooper Werner Foerster by shooting him twice 
with his own weapon, and injured another trooper; 
Whereas, on March 26, 1977, Chesimard was found guilty on 
8 counts, including 2 for murder and 6 for assault and 
related charges, and sentenced to life imprisonment; 
Whereas, on November 2, 1979, Chesimard escaped from 
prison with the assistance of members of the Black Lib-
eration Army and May 19th Communist Organization; 
Whereas Chesimard continued assaults on law enforcement 
after her escape from prison, as she was suspected to be 
in a van in 1981 that opened fire on a patrol car, killing 
1 NYPD officer and wounding another; 
Whereas Joanne Chesimard remains on the FBI’s Most 
Wanted list after seeking refuge in Cuba, where it is be-
lieved she is still hiding; 
Whereas, on September 14, 1998, the House of Representa-
tives passed H. Con. Res. 254 (105th), ‘‘Calling on the 
Government of Cuba to extradite to the United States 
convicted felon Joanne Chesimard and all other individ-
uals who have fled the United States to avoid prosecution 
or confinement for criminal offenses and who are cur-
rently living freely in Cuba’’, by a vote of 371–0; 
Whereas, on October 21, 1998, the Senate passed H. Con. 
Res. 254 (105th) by unanimous consent; 
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Whereas, on September 29, 1998, the then-Chair of the Con-
gressional Black Caucus stated that she inadvertently 
voted yes, and actually opposed H. Con. Res. 254 
(105th) because she believed that Chesimard and other 
members of the Black Liberation Movement were tar-
geted for prosecution based on their political beliefs, de-
spite the fact that Chesimard was convicted on 8 counts, 
including first-degree murder; and 
Whereas people and groups in positions of power, have cele-
brated Chesimard’s life, referred to Chesimard as an in-
dividual to be honored, and treated her as a role model 
that children should emulate: Now, therefore, be it 
Resolved, That the House of Representatives— 
(1) condemns the actions of Joanne Chesimard, 
also known as Assata Shakur, for her heinous 
crimes, including the murder of New Jersey State 
Trooper Werner Foerster and her connection to 
countless other injuries and deaths of members of 
law enforcement; 
(2) honors the life and heroic actions of law en-
forcement members whose deaths were connected to 
Joanne Chesimard, including: 
(A) NYPD Patrolman Joseph Piagentini, 
32nd Precinct (5/21/1971); 
(B) NYPD Patrolman Waverly Jones, 
32nd Precinct (5/21/1971); 
(C) NYPD Patrolman Gregory Foster, 9th 
Precinct (1/28/1972); 
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(D) NYPD Patrolman Rocco Laurie, 9th 
Precinct (1/28/1972); 
(E) New Jersey State Trooper Werner 
Foerster (5/2/1973); and 
(F) NYPD Officer John Scarangella, 
113th Precinct (5/1/1981); 
(3) rejects any celebration of Chesimard and 
condemns those who honor her or her actions; and 
(4) calls on the Government of Cuba to imme-
diately extradite convicted felon Joanne Chesimard, 
who has fled the United States to avoid prosecution 
and confinement for criminal offenses and is cur-
rently living freely in Cuba, receiving funding from 
the Cuban Government and proceeds from the sale 
of her autobiography. 
Æ 
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