Romaine “Chip” Fitzgerald spent 51 years in prison, the longest-incarcerated Black Panther in U.S. history. Unfortunately after suffering a stroke, he died at the age of 71. Could these other imprisoned freedom fighters suffer the same fate?
#1: Mutulu Shakur
This 71-year-old freedom fighter, and Tupac Shakur’s step-father, has been imprisoned for his role in Assata Shakur’s escape and a robbery that resulted in the death of two police officers. He was recently denied compassionate release, despite a terminal cancer diagnosis leaving him with a few months to live.
#2: Imam Jamil Abdullah Al-Amin
Formerly known as H-Rap Brown, 78-year-old Al-Amin is still serving a life sentence in prison for the murder of a police officer someone else already confessed to. He was the Black Panther Party’s minister of justice and the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee’s chairman.
#3: Mumia Abu-Jamal
68-year-old Abu-Jamal has been incarcerated since 1981, initially sentenced to death after being accused of murdering a white police officer. From behind bars, he has still written and published several books.
Protesting, organizing, and even breaking the law to take action has ALWAYS been and will always be a part of achieving Black liberation. These still-incarcerated Panthers remind us we cannot forget the full gravity of this struggle for our lives. Free them all!