New Jersey politicians react to the death of Chesimard, Sherrill remains silent

While political figures in New Jersey react to the death of Joanne Chesimard, Democratic candidate for governor Mikie Sherrill remained silent – a notable contrast with his republican rival Jack Ciattarelli and other democrats who have spoken.

Chesimard, also known as Assata Shakur, has long been a polarizing figure in New Jersey’s policy after his conviction in the 1973 murder of a state soldier and a subsequent escape to Cuba.

The condemned cop Killer Assata Shakur, the most sought after terrorist, died in Cuba, says the communist regime

“The death of Joanne Chesimard is a reminder of the sustainable tragedy that justice has never been signified for the murder of soldier Werner Foers,” the Ciattarelli campaign wrote in a statement to Fox News Digital on Sunday.

“Although she is never held responsible, we honor the sacrifice of Trooper Fomerster and we hold with all those who carry her memory forward,” added Ciattarelli.

The Sherrill campaign did not respond to the request for comments from Fox News Digital.

Representative Mikie Sherrill, a Democrat in New Jersey, listened to a press conference at the American Capitol in Washington, DC on Tuesday March 25, 2025. (Daniel Heuer / Bloomberg / Getty Images)

Sherrill’s silence follows the response of the political leaders of the two parties, many of whom stressed the deep ties of the case with the police and its lasting impact on the political landscape of New Jersey.

New Jersey Democratic Governor Phil Murphy said on Friday that he spoke to Secretary of State Marco Rubio, who said the Cuban government had confirmed Chesimard’s death.

“For years, we have worked with the State Department to bring Chesimard back to New Jersey, so that she can do justice for the murder of the composure of an American hero. Unfortunately, it seems that she is adopted without being fully responsible for her odious crimes,” Murphy wrote in a statement on X.

“Unlike his killer, Trooper Foerster has never had the chance to live his days in peace. But we remain fully determined to honor his memory and his sacrifice,” he added.

A split of a nj trooper, Joann Chesimard and Marco Rubio (NJ State Police / Ozier Muhammad / Newsday RM via Getty Images / Al Drago / Bloomberg via Getty Images)

Murphy said that he “would vigorously oppose any attempt to repatriate the remains of Chesimard in the United States”.

In a separate article, Murphy criticized the post of Chicago Teachers Union (CTU) on X honoring the “life and inheritance of a revolutionary fighter, a ferocious writer, a venerated of the liberation of blacks and a leader of freedom whose spirit continues to live in our struggle”.

Murphy called the “shameful and depraved” position. New Jersey republican deputy Mike Inganamort said the post CTU “celebrates a cop killer”.

The Chicago teachers’ union honors the black activist of the cop-cop-killer after death in Cuba, drawing the counterpouss

“I have long supported myself with the soldiers of the state of the NJ to fight for the return of this fugitive cop killer who brutally murdered the soldier Werner Foerster over fifty years ago,” wrote the Democrat representative of New Jersey Josh Gottheimer on X.

“While Joanne Chesimard found the wearing of Safe in Cuba and escaped responsibility during his life, nothing can erase the pain that his crimes inflicted on the family from Trooper Fomerster, his soldiers’ colleagues and our state,” he added.

Meanwhile, the representative of New Jersey, Tom Kean, said that Foerster “will remain memories for his honorable service and his ultimate sacrifice”.

“With a news of his death, we honor the soldier of life that Foerster lived, the courage he has shown and the legacy of the heroism he leaves behind,” he wrote on X.

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Chesimard was driving on New Jersey Turnpike with other members of the Black Liberation Army when they were arrested. Foerster was killed during a shooting shootout. In 1977, Chesimard was found guilty of first -degree murder as well as multiple related accusations, including assault and assault and injury from a police officer, assault with a dangerous weapon, assault with the intention of killing, the illegal possession of a firearm and an armed robbery. She was sentenced to life prison for the murder of Foerster in 1973.

A FBI poster was looking for Joanne Chesimard. (FBI)

In 1979, she escaped a New Jersey prison and hid before resurfacing in Havana in 1984, where she would have stayed since.

The FBI and the New Jersey Attorney General offered a reward of $ 1 million for its capture.