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The Honorable Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor of California
State Capitol Building
Sacramento, California 95814

Re: Romaine Fitzgerald—B27527

Dear Governor Schwarzenegger:

Pursuant to Article V, Section 8, of the California Constitution, you have the extraordinary executive power to affirm, modify or reverse a decision of the California Board of Prison Terms (the “Board”) as to parole for people serving indeterminate life sentences. And, you have exercised that power in denying parole to hundreds of inmates to whom the Board has granted parole, including in the case of Sandra Lawrence. Of course, in 2008, the California Supreme Court overruled your decision in the Lawrence case, and ruled that the Board’s charge is to grant parole except where there is a showing of present dangerousness.

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COMMITTEE TO FREE CHIP FITZGERALD

July 21, 2008

Dear Supporters of Chip Fitzgerald,

On July 2, 2008, Romaine “Chip” Fitzgerald was denied parole by the California Board of Parole Hearings, to wait one more year for a new hearing. Serving a life sentence from 1969 convictions for murder and assault on police when he was a member of the Black Panther Party in Los Angeles, Chip was first eligible for parole in 1976. Since then, he has not been charged with any prison violations sufficient to justify this denial. Chip remains the longest held Black Panther Party political prisoner in the United States.

The spirit of all of us, the People, is greater than the authority of the Board! Our June 28, 2008, tribute to Chip in Los Angeles demonstrated our unity and strength and the power of our commitment to free Chip. Our seven-hour event was one of the most significant gatherings of community leaders Los Angeles has seen in a long time. Hosted by KJLH radio host Dominique DiPrima and our event coordinator Sikander Iqbal, the tribute lasted many hours longer than expected because everyone sensed the historic importance of our inter-generational, multi-ethnic assemblage, to resurrect the spirit of the Panther embodied in Chip and launch a new movement for progressive change in this country.

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