Page 16 - Jen Carson News Today : Breaking News, Live Updates & Top Stories | Vimarsana

The last time jen saw her father was the one time she visited him in prison more than 20 years ago. at the time, he showed no remorse, and today she refuses to speak with him. for years, jen thought the carsons would never get out. but in 2014, a new california state program allowed elderly inmates the possibility of parole. in 2015, michael and susan received hearings. susan was denied and michael will be seeing the board again in 2020. >> do you believe that over 60 years old, your father is still a danger to society? >> i believe that if he were released that he would be harmed or he would ...

Depression, school failure, substance abuse. and you know what? i'm really open. i am mentally ill. i have a mental illness, everybody. is that scaring you? it shouldn't. when we get to a place where we can talk about that, like other people talk about their diabetes, then we can move forward, because you know what? i am not ashamed of being mentally ill. i didn't put that stigma on that, somebody else put that stigma on me. >> today's crowd is somewhat unique. while some have gathered out of pure interest, others connect to jen's message more deeply. >> my grandson's father is in prison for...

I was living this horrible existence, and he was going dom save me. >> and you still loved him? >> and i still loved him. yeah. >> so, jen, where are we going now? >> we're headed to my old elementary school. this is where i was a fourth grader when my mother came and told me about his arrest of crimes. >> when was the last time you were here? >> 35 years. i have just avoided coming over here because it is completely intertwined in the worst day of my life. >> okay. >> how does it feel to be here right now? >> i don't know. it's strange. i mean, we're standing where my

And that the implications of our beliefs matter, and understanding them matter. >> ladies and gentlemen, here's zach ibrahim. [ applause ] >> thank you. >> this is model united nations. thousands of high school students from all over the world have gathered here to learn how to become future leaders, and now zach has their full attention. >> i was 7 years old when my father went to prison, and there is not a day that goes by that i had wish he had chosen a peaceful path. instead, he exposed me from a very young age to the intolerance and radical nature of extremism. and yet i stand before you ...

Very, very different, but strangely enough, they are very similar. they're both very protective of their mothers, and they're both very passionate about their mission. in many ways, their childhoods and adult lives have been defined by what their fathers have done, but they have chosen to spread messages of life, and not death. being a child of a killer is a silent burden, but jen and zach are no longer hiding. >> in the past i was trying to atone for my father's crimes. and now i know i cannot bring back his victims. i can't pay this debt. it's not my debt. >> there are people out there who w...