Musicians to Begin Statewide Prison Tour at Pelican Bay

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6 responses to “Musicians to Begin Statewide Prison Tour at Pelican Bay”

1. 

   Jr.

   May 3, 2017

   This is great, and I hope that there can be more programs like this. Also, there is a new book entitled “23/7: Pelican Bay Prison and the Rise of Long-Term Solitary Confinement” by Keramet Reiter (Yale University Press), The author is an assistant professor at University of California, Irvine.

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2. 

   Linda Sutter

   May 4, 2017

   OMG AS THOUGH ZOO’S AND WAM WAM’S WERE NOT ENOUGH. Obviously this guy is on crack or some really good LSD. so we want to give murderers, child molesters, and serial killers some more R&R? yeah, what about the victims who will live on to endure the heinous crimes that destroyed their mind, body, and souls? why don’t you play music for them?

   Pelican Bay State Prison administration has lost sight of what a prison is suppose to do. How are we punishing these butt wipes if they get free education, free music shows,free medical, dental, and vision, free to do nothing all day long but have a permanent recess. How does this prevent people from doing crime when they are sent to a prison that offers such amenities? oh and let us not forget the conjugal visits.

   yep, prison, another way of life to get everything for free without paying anything so if and when they get out they get hired by google for 60,000.00 dollars per year…great deterrents don’t ya think?

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   1. 

      Webmaster

      May 4, 2017

      This is the response from Lt. Jessica Berg at the Prison:

      In response to your question, there are no costs associated with this event. All supervision will be done with staff that will already be working that day, as part of their daily duties. In addition; This event is part of an ecumenical religious services with the Catholic and Protestant population and several other religious volunteers will be in attendance to assist. The concert itself was a 100% donation.

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   2. 

      LARRY

      May 6, 2017

      Have to agree with you for a change. The pianist is a misguided liberal who is making himself FEEL GOOD by playing for these coddled inmates. If he wanted to make a difference, rather than a political statement, he would be playing at rest homes, and outdoor parks. By the way, you will never get RA time with a message like that….a joke of course. The admin wouldn’t hire you anyway.

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3. 

   Patricia Sollmann

   May 9, 2017

   In light of some of the negative comments this article has received by some because of Eric’s outreach to prisoners, the timeless story of Les Miserables by Victor Hugo comes to mind. Many of those in prison grew up without opportunity, privilege or love, and the vast majority of the incarcerated will one day be released. When you treat someone like an animal, as the classic story portrayed, that is what you will get. But when you remind someone of their humanity even for a few moments through an experience of forgiveness like the good bishop from the story offered the ex-convict, or through an experience of beauty as this musician tries to bring into the ugliness of prison life, those in the prisons can experience a deeper sense of what it means to be truly human. If those of us on the outside of prisons begin to devalue the humanity of those on the inside, than the only thing that separates us from them is the conviction and the bars. We would share, then, the same root attitudes that put many of them into prison in the first place – the devaluation of human life. I applaud this musician and the mission of Concerts for Hope. Those who posted negative comments reveal certain attitudes deep in the heart of our society, something that this musician has an antidote for. Human beings, every one of us, no matter what stage we are in life, no matter the age, no matter how capable or incapable we are, no matter what we have done or can never do again, have an innate dignity that can never be erased. It is good for those of us on the outside of prison walls, nursing homes, veterans facilities, rehab centers, and everywhere else in our society to be reminded of this.

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4. 

   Rochelle House

   October 1, 2024

   I am glad that people like Eric Genius are doing good work in the world.
   I am sorry for those of you who are so hate filled.
   May you find peace.

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