ACTION ALERT - Governor Newsom; Free Kelli Blackwell
Join us TODAY in urging Gov. Newsom to sign Kelli’s commutation application so she can continue healing at home with her community
Kelli Renae Blackwell is a 57-year-old Black trans woman who has been incarcerated since 1990 when she was sentenced to Life Without the Possibility of Parole. The California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation placed Kelli in men’s prisons for the first 30+ years of her incarceration and she dealt with extreme abuse and assault because of this. She also spent those years caring for sick and suffering people in prison, working on the Inmate Advisory Council, and working to bring more peace to the community.
In 2021, with the passing of SB 132, The Transgender Respect, Agency and Dignity Act, Kelli was able to transfer to CCWF (Central California Women’s Facility). In her 34 years in prison, Kelli has helped foster safety for other LGBTQ+ people inside, and she’s listened to and educated cis people who are incarcerated about the ways their struggles are united.
The daughter of Kelli’s former roommate described Kelli as “a leader, a fighter, an activist, and one of the kindest souls I have ever met…Society would benefit from her outside of prison walls.”
Please join us TODAY and contact California Governor Gavin Newson, urging him to sign Kelli’s commutation application so she can continue healing at home with her community! We’ve heard that the Governor gets notified when 100+ letters come in about a given issue in a single day, so please spread the word and help us build momentum for Kelli’s freedom!
Action steps you can take:
- Select “Clemency - Commutation of Sentence” as the topic in the drop down menu
- Click “Leave a Comment”
- Click “Pro”
- Message subject: K Blackwell WB1131 - Commutation of Sentence
- Use the email template below, and feel free to customize
Dear Governor Newsom,
I am writing in regards to Kelli Blackwell #WB1131, who has served over 30 years in prison with exemplary behavior and many accomplishments. Kelli is a Black trans woman who has devoted herself to learning and sharing conflict resolution and peacebuilding skills that she’s utilized on Inmate Advisory Councils and while fostering safety for LGBTQ+ people in prison. I am requesting that Governor Newsom commute Kelli’s sentence so she has the opportunity to be seen by the Parole Board.
Kelli has facilitated decades of transformational work in areas of violence prevention, developing emotional intelligence, and understanding victim impact—including the behavioral factors leading to her crime. She has been living her amends by learning how to take full responsibility for both past and current behaviors. Kelli consistently provides safe spaces that foster inner peace and resilience aimed at undoing destructive behavioral patterns. She has a robust support network ready to welcome her home to continue this important work in the community.
2. Use your social media channels to spread the word
- Sample Tweets/Bluesky Posts
"Kelli is somebody I would be happy to have as a neighbor. Society would benefit from her outside of prison walls." @CAGovernor we as your constituents are asking you to commute Kelli Blackwell #WB1131! #ClemencyNow
Join us in fighting for #FreedomForKelli today by writing to @CAGovernor and urging him to commute this Black trans woman who has spent decades in prison working to make others safer. Toolkit here: bit.ly/freedom4KB
“Kelli is a leader, a fighter, an activist, and one of the kindest souls I have ever met.” Let’s bring Kelli home! Urge @CAGovernor to commute Kelli Blackwell today #FreedomForKelli Toolkit here: bit.ly/freedom4KB
- Sample Instagram/Facebook posts
Email @CAGovernor TODAY, February 5, to fight for Kelli’s freedom!
Kelli Blackwell is a Black trans woman who has spent her 30+ years in prison working to build queer community and make trans people inside safer. Join us in urging Governor Newsom to commute Kelli’s LWOP sentence so that she can return home and no longer have to fight to survive in the transphobic prison system. Toolkit here: bit.ly/freedom4KB
Kelli has facilitated decades of transformational work and consistently provides safe spaces that foster inner peace, resilience, and education amongst her incarcerated community. She has a robust support network ready to welcome her home to continue this important work outside of prison walls.
#FreedomForKelli #ClemencyNow
We are so thankful to our supporters who stand along side us and advocate for Kelli and others like her who have demonstrated their commitment to bettering the lives of those around her while inside. We believe she would continue her work in her community that supports her after release, as we all work toward making our justice system a fairer one.
