Kuwasi Balagoon (born Donald Weems; December 22, 1946 – December 13, 1986) was an American political activist, anarchist and member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army. Radicalized by race riots in his home state of Maryland growing up, as well as by his experiences while serving in the US Army, Weems became the black revolutionary known as Kuwasi Balagoon in New York City in the late 1960s. First becoming involved in local Afrocentric organizations in Harlem, Balagoon would move on to become involved in the New York chapter of the Black Panther Party, which quickly saw him charged and arrested for allegedly criminal behavior. Balagoon was initially part of the Panther 21 case, in which 21 Black Panthers were accused of planning to bomb several locations in New York City. Although the Panther 21 were acquitted, Balagoon's case was separated off and he was convicted instead of a New Jersey bank robbery. While serving his sentence, Balagoon became disillusioned with the Black Panther Party and drifted into the more radical Black Liberation Army while also ideologically embracing Black anarchism. During the 1970s Balagoon would escape prison twice, and during his second period on the run, would be …
Kuwasi Balagoon
Author details
- Born:
- Dec. 22, 1946
- Died:
- Dec. 13, 1986
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Kuwasi Balagoon (born Donald Weems; December 22, 1946 – December 13, 1986) was an American political activist, anarchist and member of the Black Panther Party and Black Liberation Army. Radicalized by race riots in his home state of Maryland growing up, as well as by his experiences while serving in the US Army, Weems became the black revolutionary known as Kuwasi Balagoon in New York City in the late 1960s. First becoming involved in local Afrocentric organizations in Harlem, Balagoon would move on to become involved in the New York chapter of the Black Panther Party, which quickly saw him charged and arrested for allegedly criminal behavior. Balagoon was initially part of the Panther 21 case, in which 21 Black Panthers were accused of planning to bomb several locations in New York City. Although the Panther 21 were acquitted, Balagoon's case was separated off and he was convicted instead of a New Jersey bank robbery. While serving his sentence, Balagoon became disillusioned with the Black Panther Party and drifted into the more radical Black Liberation Army while also ideologically embracing Black anarchism. During the 1970s Balagoon would escape prison twice, and during his second period on the run, would be involved in breaking Assata Shakur out of prison in 1979. In 1981 Balagoon was amongst the several BLA, May 19 Communist Organization and Weather Underground members involved in the 1981 Brink's robbery, which resulted in the deaths of two police officers and one security guard. Following his capture in 1982, Balagoon would be tried and sentenced to life for his involvement. While in prison, Balagoon died of pneumocystis pneumonia brought about by AIDS on 13 December 1986. He was 39 years old.
