Biography
Black liberation activist Ruth (Lateefah) Carter was a New York 8+ defendant arrested in the October 18, 1984 raids and detained pending bail proceedings in federal custody. The prosecution alleged conspiracies involving armed robberies and prison escapes, later adding RICO and weapons counts. Contemporary reporting identifies her as a longtime Bantam Books clerical worker. She was released on bail before the summer 1985 trial reporting; her individual discharge date remains unverified. She was acquitted of the RICO and conspiracy charges in August 1985. Bail release and later acquittal are distinct events.
Arrest date and name clarified
The original Second Circuit opinion, United States v. Chimurenga, 760 F.2d 400, dates the eight defendants' arrests October 18, 1984, followed by detention and bail hearings. It distinguishes the seven co-defendants' conditional releases from Chimurenga's later release-order appeal. Contemporary Militant reporting, July 26, 1985, page 7, names Ruth (Lateefah) Carter among the same eight and independently gives October 18. The original April 22, 1985 district-court opinion identifies Ruth Carter, also known as Latifa Carter, in the defendant caption and Robert L. Carter as the district judge. These primary case records supersede the earlier October 17 dates and unsupported Kevin Thomas Duffy attribution. No exact individual bail-release day is established; acquittal is not represented as release.
