America’s most wanted: My family on the run, part 2

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When Zayd Ayers Dohrn was born his parents were fugitives. They were the leaders of the Weather Underground – a violent revolutionary group opposed to the Vietnam war. Most members were white, but they worked closely with radical black organisations opposing racism in the US, drawing attention to their cause through bombing campaigns, bank robberies, and jailbreaks. When Zayd’s younger brother came along his mother, Bernardine, decided it was time to hand herself in. They managed to do a deal and most of the charges she faced were dropped. However when Zayd was five Bernadine went to jail. Despite having been on the run from the FBI for more than a decade she was not charged with any crime. She went to prison because of her refusal to give evidence against her former revolutionary comrades. For Zayd, as a child it was really difficult to understand his mother's choice. To him at the time, it seemed there was an easy path for her to return to the family, which she had decided not to take. This is the second of two episodes featuring Zayd. For Australian Sue-Ellen Kusher, nee Doherty, growing up in the suburbs of Brisbane was far from normal. Both her parents worked for the Australian Secret Intelligence Organisation, ASIO, and in the early days of their marriage, they brought up their three children to be part of the family business. It was the 1950s during the Cold War, and Russian and Chinese communists were regarded as enemies. Sue-Ellen and her siblings would collect information about anyone suspicious – tracking number plates and going to political rallies. Most importantly of all, they learnt to keep secrets and never ask questions. Then when she was 17, her father Dudley, who she idolised, died very suddenly. At least, that is what she was told. He was a man who had often disappeared on missions and she was to spend many years waiting for him to return and wondering whether her mother was keeping from her the biggest secret of all. A longer version of this programme was first broadcast in 2021. (Photo: A black and white family photo with Zayd in the foreground aged around five, with shoulder length blond hair, wearing a heavy overcoat buttoned up. His parents Bernardine and Bill are standing behind, both smiling at the camera. Bernardine has long dark hair and wears several sweaters and a scarf . Bill is bearded and wears glasses, a short jacket and jeans. Peeking over Bill's shoulder is Zayd's younger brother Malik, wearing a hat that covers his ears and sweater. He is in a child carrier which Bill is wearing on his back, Malik. They are standing in front of a Saab 95 estate car. Credit: Zayd Ayers Dohrn) Get in touch: outlook@bbc.com or WhatsApp +44 330 678 2707 Presenter: Jo Fidgen Producer: Julian Siddle