Bill Text: NJ ACR66 | 2012-2013 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Urges President and Congress to delay normalizing relations with Cuba until Joanne Chesimard is extradited.
Spectrum: Strong Partisan Bill (Republican 22-2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2012-01-10 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Judiciary Committee [ACR66 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2012-ACR66-Introduced.html
ASSEMBLY CONCURRENT RESOLUTION No. 66
STATE OF NEW JERSEY
215th LEGISLATURE
PRE-FILED FOR INTRODUCTION IN THE 2012 SESSION
Sponsored by:
Assemblyman DAVID P. RIBLE
District 30 (Monmouth and Ocean)
Assemblyman GORDON M. JOHNSON
District 37 (Bergen)
Assemblywoman MARY PAT ANGELINI
District 11 (Monmouth)
Co-Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman Casagrande, Assemblymen O'Scanlon, Rumpf, Rumana, Dancer, Rudder, Chiusano, Wolfe, Bramnick, Assemblywomen N.Munoz, Handlin, Assemblymen Amodeo, DiMaio, Carroll, Assemblywoman McHose, Assemblymen Webber, DeCroce, Albano and Russo
SYNOPSIS
Urges President and Congress to delay normalizing relations with Cuba until Joanne Chesimard is extradited.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
Introduced Pending Technical Review by Legislative Counsel
A Concurrent Resolution urging the President and Congress to delay normalizing relations with Cuba until Joanne Chesimard is extradited.
Whereas, Joanne Chesimard, also known as Assata Shakur, was convicted in 1977 of the May 2, 1973 murder of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster and wounding of New Jersey State Trooper James Harper during a shoot-out on the New Jersey Turnpike, and was sentenced to life in prison; and
Whereas, After being pulled over for a routine traffic stop, Ms. Chesimard and fellow members of the radical Black Liberation Army opened fire on Troopers Foerster and Harper, and Ms. Chesimard eventually killed Trooper Foerster reportedly "execution style," by shooting him in the head as he lay wounded by gunfire; and
Whereas, In 1979, Ms. Chesimard escaped from a maximum security cell at the Reformatory for Women in Clinton, New Jersey, and later fled to Cuba, where she was granted political asylum and has lived ever since; and
Whereas, New Jersey citizens were shocked and outraged to view television interviews showing Ms. Chesimard living freely in Cuba, portraying herself as the victim, and denying that she participated in any crimes against Trooper Foerster; and
Whereas, Several attempts have been made to diplomatically bring Ms. Chesimard back to the United States, including House Concurrent Resolution 254 of 1998, which called on Cuba to extradite Ms. Chesimard, and efforts by law enforcement to procure Ms. Chesimard's extradition; and
Whereas, Although the United States and Cuba have a longstanding history of tension and confrontation, recent events have signaled the beginning of the United States implementing a less strict policy towards Cuba, specifically the easing of economic sanctions on Cuba and the easing of travel restrictions on Cuban Americans traveling to Cuba; and
Whereas, By aiding and abetting this cold-blooded killer, Cuba has insulted our State Police and all members of the law enforcement community, and has interfered with the ability of Ms. Chesimard to be brought to justice for the murder of a dedicated law enforcement officer; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the General Assembly of the State of New Jersey (the Senate concurring):
1. The President and Congress are respectfully urged to delay normalizing relations with Cuba until Joanne Chesimard is extradited.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the General Assembly, shall be transmitted to the President and Vice-President of the United States, the Majority and Minority Leaders of the United States Senate, the Speaker and Minority Leader of the United States House of Representatives, and every member of Congress elected from this State.
STATEMENT
This concurrent resolution respectfully urges the President and Congress to delay normalizing relations with Cuba until Joanne Chesimard is extradited.
Ms. Chesimard was convicted in 1977 of the May 2, 1973 murder of New Jersey State Trooper Werner Foerster and wounding of New Jersey State Trooper James Harper during a shoot-out on the New Jersey Turnpike, and was sentenced to life in prison. In 1979, Ms. Chesimard escaped from a New Jersey prison and later fled to Cuba, where she was granted political asylum and has lived freely ever since.
By aiding and abetting this cold-blooded killer, Cuba has insulted our State Police and all members of the law enforcement community, and has interfered with the ability of Ms. Chesimard to be brought to justice for the murder of a dedicated law enforcement officer.
