 | This article may be unbalanced toward certain viewpoints. (February 2023) |
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Omali Yeshitela | |
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.jpg) Yeshitela in 2023 | |
| Born | Joseph Waller October 9, 1941 St. Petersburg, Florida, United States |
| Political party | African People's Socialist Party |
| Spouse | Ona Zené Yeshitela |
| Criminal status | Convicted, awaiting sentencing |
| Conviction(s) | Conspiracy to Act as an Agent of a Foreign Government (September 12, 2024) |
| Criminal charge | 18 U.S.C. § 951 Conspiracy to Act as an Agent of a Foreign Government |
| Website | apspuhuru |
Omali Yeshitela (born Joseph Waller on October 9, 1941) is an American political activist and author. He is a co-founder and current chairman of the African People's Socialist Party (formed in 1972) which leads the Uhuru Movement. Yeshitela has advocated for reparations as a "People's Advocate" at the First International Tribunal on Reparations to Black People in the U.S., held in Brooklyn, New York, in 1982.[1]
In September 2024 Yeshitela was convicted in U.S. federal court of conspiring to act as an agent of the Russian government.[2] Yeshitela conspired with Aleksandr Ionov, a Russian agent taking directions from the FSB to spread pro-Russian propaganda in the United States.[3][4] Yeshitela is awaiting sentencing and could face up to five years in federal prison.[5]
- ^ "UF Digital Collections". ufdc.ufl.edu. Retrieved March 29, 2022.
- ^ "St. Petersburg Uhurus guilty of conspiracy, not guilty of acting as Russian agents". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ Axelbank, Evan (September 12, 2024). "Uhuru group convicted of conspiring with Russian agent, acquitted of acting on behalf of foreign government". FOX 13 News. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ "Office of Public Affairs | U.S. Citizens and Russian Intelligence Officers Charged with Conspiring to Use U.S. Citizens as Illegal Agents of the Russian Government | United States Department of Justice". www.justice.gov. April 18, 2023. Retrieved September 16, 2024.
- ^ "Black rights activists convicted of conspiracy, not guilty of acting as Russian agents". AP News. September 12, 2024. Retrieved September 16, 2024.