Scripps College hosts two panel discussions and a film screening on April 13 to mark the weekend-long launch of the “Stop the Torture” campaign, which calls for the end of long-term solitary confinement in California. All events are free and open to the public and take place in the Humanities Auditorium, 981 N. Amherst Ave.
At 1 p.m., a panel discusses “Life Inside California’s Supermax Prisons” that leads into a 3 p.m. panel discussion of “The Continuing Struggle to End Long-Term Solitary Confinement in California Prisons.” A screening of the documentary “Herman’s House” begins at 7 p.m. A question-and-answer session with the film’s director, Angad Bhalia, follows. “Herman’s House” explores the friendship between a New York artist and a man who served 40 years in solitary confinement as the two collaborated on an acclaimed art project.
Individuals with family members in solitary confinement are among the expected panelists. Other speakers include: mental health expert Dr. Terry Kupers of The Wright Institute; Professor Emerita of Art and Art History Sheila Pinkel of Pomona College; Carol Strickman, staff attorney for Legal Services for Prisoners With Children; and Dolores Canales, co-founder of California Families to Abolish Solitary Confinement.
Legal Services for Prisoners With Children, California Families to Abolish Solitary Confinement and Prison Hunger Strike Solidarity Coalition are among the community groups participating. Scripps College lecturer Susan Castagnetto’s Core 2 “Why Punish?” class is also involved in the campaign. This event is sponsored by the Intercollegiate Women’s Studies of The Claremont Colleges; BLAIS Foundation Challenge Award, Claremont Graduate University; and McConnell Funds, Pomona College. For more details, visit iws.scrippscollege.edu/.