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.
A newspaper article from The Star Ledger about District Court Judge George H. Barlow inspecting the cell where Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) is being held in Middlesex County to stand trial for the May 1973 killing of a state trooper. Shakur was convicted in 1977 of the killing and escaped prison in 1979.
A newspaper article from The News Tribune about the testimony of State Police Detective James Challender describing what he saw at the emergency room where Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) and wounded state trooper Werner Foerster were taken after he was fatally shot. Shakur was on trial for the 1973 murder of Foerster.
A newspaper from the New Jersey Afro-American about discrepancies in the testimony of trooper James Harper in the trial of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. In cross-examination, it was revealed that Harper had not seen Shakur fire the shot that had wounded him even though he had claimed that earlier.
A newspaper article from The News Tribune about multiple disruptions on March 2, 1977, in the trial of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. Several spectators were ejected from the court after Superior Court Judge Theodore Appleby accused the defense team of orchestrating outbursts during evidence submission.
A newspaper article from The News Tribune about forensic tests performed on the bodies of the victims and defendants in the murder trial of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) being inconclusive to show that the defendants held or shot the weapons in question. Shakur was on trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper.
A newspaper article from The News Tribune summarizing key points from the prosecution's case after the state had rested its case against Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. The defense, after intense cross-examination of prosecution witnesses, was scheduled to begin presenting its case on March 14, 1977.
An essay from an unknown author sharing thoughts about the idea of an upcoming guerilla war in the United States and the tactics that would be necessary. The author writes that the years after 1970 could see a rise in political assassinations, bombings, and sabotage of power plants and technological systems.
An essay about the Black Liberation Army (BLA) and the need for politically mobilizing an armed populace toward the collective goal of Marxism-Socialism-Leninism in America. The author writes that the BLA must do a better job of organizing the Black working class to achieve liberation and socialism.
A newspaper article from The Home News about workmen cleaning painted slogans in support of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard), on trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper, from the Middlesex County Courthouse. Slogans such as “Free Assata” and “Stop the Lynching” had been spraypainted on the building between 1-2am.
A newspaper article from The Home News about the heavy security that accompanied Clark Squire on his move from Trenton State Prison to Middlesex County for a six hour meeting with Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) and her defense team. Squire was earlier convicted of the same 1973 killing of a state trooper that Shakur was on trial for.
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. The author writes about the process that went into Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) being confined to solitary confinement and the court hearing that took place to examine the evidence.
A requiem written to Anthony White (Kimu Olugbala) and Woodie Green (Changa Olugbala), two members of the Black Liberation Army (BLA) who died in prison. The author writes that their memory will be used as fuel for the ongoing struggle against oppression. A quote from Argentine Marxist revolutionary Che Guevara is printed at the bottom of page 2.
A newspaper article from The Star Ledger 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 slogans spray painted on the Middlesex County Courthouse in support of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) during her trial trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. Five women were arrested for another incident where pro-Shakur handbills were posted on the nearby county welfare office.
A photograph from the newspaper The Home News of Middlesex County Jail. The jail, where Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) was staying for her New Jersey trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper, had been found "grossly inadequate" in a comprehensive report. The report called for shorter terms and millions of dollars in upgrades.
A photograph from the newspaper The Home News of Middlesex County Jail. The jail, where Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) was staying for her New Jersey trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper, had been found "grossly inadequate" in a comprehensive report. Shakur was attempting to get transferred from the jail.
A short essay about the revolutionary killing of cops. The author gives two recent examples of revolutionaries killing cops, saying the killers are urban guerillas who constitute the military arm of the Black Liberation Army (BLA). The tagline of the essay is “All Power to the New Urban Guerilla, War to the End.”
A newspaper article from the Asbury Park Press about Attorney General William F. Hyland ruling that the Executive Commission on Ethical Standards can close its meetings to the public on certain occasions. This article pertains to hearings in the trial of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) for the 1973 killing of a state trooper.
A newspaper article from The Star Ledger about Superior Court Judge John C. Demos denying a motion to move the murder trial of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) for the 1973 killing of a state trooper out of Middlesex County because of the defense's inability to show that an unbiased jury couldn't be selected.
A photograph from the newspaper The Home News of poet and playwright Amiri Baraka speaking at a benefit for Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) at the Rutgers University Student Center in New Jersey. Shakur was on trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. Baraka was one of several speakers speaking on Shakur’s behalf at the benefit.
A news blurb from The New York Times about Lennox Hinds, president of the National Conference of Black Lawyers, speaking out against his critics for his support of Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard), in her trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper, after being cited by The Ethics Committee of the Middlesex County Bar Association.
A newspaper article from The New York Times detailing the testimony Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) gave during her trial for the 1973 killing of a state trooper. In her testimony, she denied shooting anyone, or possessing a firearm, and gave her account of what happened that day.
A newspaper article from The Home News about Assata Shakur (JoAnne Chesimard) dropping her plan to testify in her attempt to get moved to a larger cell while in Middlesex County to stand trial for the May 1973 killing of a state trooper. Shakur was convicted in 1977 of the killing and escaped prison in 1979.
On the front of the Mother’s Day card there is a picture of a group of women. On the back of the card, Black Liberation Army (BLA) member Ashanti Alston expresses his Mother's Day wishes to Frankye Adams-Johnson (Malika), and he says that one day may come where there is no struggle because she deserves so much more from life.
A message declaring the revolutionary intentions of the Black Liberation Army (BLA). The author sets up a dystopian military state scene and writes that revolutionaries must be prepared to do anything, including infiltration, violence, and more. The author also writes that those who die for the cause of revolution must be celebrated, not mourned.
A message from the Black Liberation Army (BLA) to brothers and sisters, comrades and friends attending a rally. The message briefly outlines the history and tenets of the organization, including taking up arms against the oppressive government as well as combatting ills in the community such as slumlords, drug pushers, and pimps.
Brief greetings given on behalf of the Black Liberation Army (BLA) to people attending a rally in support of revolution. With handwritten notes by Frankye Adams-Johnson (Malika) about some of the tactical setbacks the BLA has experienced, the most costly of which being the loss of people who gave their lives to the struggle.
Black Panther Party leader, co-founder of the Black Liberation Army, and political prisoner Dhoruba Bin Wahd (Richard Moore) writes to the Freedom Now Campaign concerning several of the group's members exhibiting opportunistic tendencies on the issue of African-American political prisoners because of a power vacuum in the Black liberation struggle
A letter to Algerian president Houari Boumediene from members of the Black Liberation Army (BLA) who had fled to his country from the United States. Melvin McNair, Jean McNair, Larry Burgess, and George Brown hijacked a plane in Miami on July 31, 1972 to seek political asylum in Algeria. The letter talks about their treatment in the country.
A letter addressed to “All Black and Oppressed Third World People” from the Malcolm X Section of the Afro-American Liberation Army. The letter is a call for Black people to take up arms and take their freedom from America, even if that means “killing those who stand between us and the oppressor”
