CUNY Removes Controversial Sign

WNYC News | Jul 12, 2010

New York, NY —

New York's City College will be taking down a sign naming a student club room for convicted cop killer Joanne Chesimard and terror bomber Willie Morales.

A student group 17 years ago named the room at the school's Harlem campus in honor of Guillermo "Willie" Morales, a Puerto Rican separatist involved in a series of bombings in the city in the 1970s and Chesimard, who later adopted the name Assata Shakur. She escaped from prison while serving time for the 1973-killing of a New Jersey State Trooper.

The move came after the Daily News published a front-page article yesterday calling it a quote "punch to the gut" for crime and terror victims. CUNY Chancellor Matthew Goldstein requested that the sign be removed, saying only CUNY's trustees can name college facilities.

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