Trinity Washington University will host a full-day of “remembrance” for Assata Shakur, the convicted murderer and domestic terrorist who killed a New Jersey state trooper and escaped federal prison before fleeing to Cuba. The event comes as controversy grows over the school’s close ties to its most famous alumna, Nancy Pelosi.
The private Catholic university in Washington, D.C., announced plans for a “full-day remembrance” to honor the “life, work, and enduring legacy of Assata Shakur.” Scheduled for Tuesday, the event will include a “community reading” of Shakur’s autobiography and a “critical discussion” of her life, followed by a “space for collective reflection and cultural appreciation.”
Shakur was convicted in 1977 for the execution-style murder of state trooper Werner Foerster during a 1973 traffic stop. She later escaped prison and fled to Cuba, where she lived in exile until her death on Sept. 25.
Despite her crimes, prominent Democrats have praised Shakur. Reps. Yvette Clarke, Summer Lee, and Ayanna Pressley all honored her after her death, as did the NAACP and the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA).
Pelosi, who donated roughly $1.5 million in Apple stock to the school and founded the Nancy D’Alesandro Pelosi Chair in Global Affairs and Politics, has not commented on the event or her colleagues’ praise for the convicted killer. Trinity president Patricia McGuire previously called Pelosi “an icon” for students.
The school’s decision marks the first university-sanctioned event in the U.S. commemorating Shakur’s life.
