Song meaning of Statement on Pelican Bay Prisoners’ Hunger Strike by Todd Ashker

The lyrics of "Statement on Pelican Bay Prisoners' Hunger Strike" by Todd Ashker convey a powerful message about the injustices and atrocities faced by prisoners subjected to long-term solitary confinement in Pelican Bay State Prison. Ashker, as a principal representative of the prisoners in the Short Corridor Collective Human Rights Movement, outlines their core demands, which primarily revolve around ending indefinite solitary confinement based on innocuous associational behavior or confidential information obtained through torture.

The lyrics highlight the failure of the California Prison System to provide due process and fair treatment to the prisoners, as the STG pilot program continues to rely on confidential information without formal charges or proper adjudication. As a result, the prisoners have been left with no choice but to evolve their strategies and employ peaceful civil disobedience and litigation to bring about the much-needed changes.

The song also emphasizes the class-consciousness of the prisoner class as a microcosm of the working-class poor in society. By referencing figures like Bobby Sands, Che Guevara, Howard Zinn, Naomi Wolf, and Thomas Paine, Ashker aims to unite and inspire fellow prisoners as they fight for their rights.

Overall, the lyrics shed light on the plight of prisoners in Pelican Bay State Prison and their determination to utilize peaceful means to resist and challenge a system that has subjected them to inhumane treatment and denial of their basic human rights.