Romaine “Chip” Fitzgerald, a member of the original Black Panther Party, has passed away, Moguldom Nation reported. Fitzgerald died in a California prison on March 29 at the age of 71.
Incarcerated for 51 years, he was the longest-imprisoned Panther. He was convicted as a teen and was in prison longer than he was free.
He was accused of the attempted murder of a California Highway Patrol officer after a traffic stop gone wrong in September 1969.
After being pulled over for an alleged tail light violation, a shootout occurred. The officer and Fitzgerald were wounded. Fitzgerald was in the car with two other Black Panther Party members.
In the days before his arrest for his role in the incident, he was accused of murdering a security guard, though there was little evidence to substantiate the claim.
Fitzgerald was initially sentenced to death for the two crimes. Still, after the California Supreme Court outlawed the death penalty in 1972, his sentence was commuted to life with the possibility of parole.
Fitzgerald was first eligible for parole in 1976 but was unable to appeal to the parole board successfully. Since that time, he went before the parole board at least 11 more times but was never granted his request.
Romaine “Chip” Fitzgerald’s case was not as popular as other cases. However, advocates on Twitter who kept abreast of the case have spoken out.
Chip, a former member of the Black Panther Party, has served 50 years in the California State prison system. He was first eligible for parole in 1976 and has served more than three times the average sentence for his offense.
50 YEARS IS ENOUGH! #Freedom4Chip— Free Romaine “Chip” Fitzgerald (@Freedom4Chip) March 5, 2020
The case is yet another on a long list of cases where defendants were either wrongly convicted or sentenced disproportionately.
Despite the uphill battle for release, “Chip” remained hopeful. “Upon my release, I will welcome the warmth and laughter of my grandchildren. I look forward to their hugs and smiles. I will be the Grandpa present to soothe them through occasional scrapes after they show me their somersaults and expert bike riding maneuvers,” he wrote.
In recent years, he suffered a stroke and other illness that limited his mobility, according to People’s World.
You can find more information on Fitzgerald and his story can be found on the Freedom4Chip website.
