Mike Farrell, National Death Penalty Abolition Leader
To Keynote
Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
Luncheon
By Paul O’Shea
One of the nation’s foremost leaders in the fight to end the
death penalty in the United States will headline the annual
luncheon of Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
this fall. Mike Farrell, actor, human rights and social
justice activist will speak at the event Saturday, October 20
at St. John Neumann Church, Reston, Virginia. The
program begins at noon and is open to the public.
Farrell is known internationally for four decades of social
and political activism, and as “B.J. Hunnicutt” in the historic
television series M*A*S*H. For more than three decades he
has spoken, written and lobbied against the death penalty,
as well on other humanitarian issues. Since 1994 he has
been president of Death Penalty Focus, the California-based
organization he founded and one of the abolition
movement’s leading organizations. He speaks, debates,
writes and coordinates efforts to stop executions at home
and abroad.
In other pursuits Farrell is a spokesperson for Concern
America, an international refugee aid and development
organization, co-chair emeritus of the California Committee
of Human Rights Watch, and a good will ambassador for the
United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. He is the
author of two books: “Just Call Me Mike, a Journey to Actor
and Activist” and “Of Mule and Man,” and a film director
and producer.
Michael Stone, executive director of Virginians for
Alternatives to the Death Penalty said: “This is a rare
opportunity for people concerned about human rights and
social justice issues to hear first hand about the progress
and problems facing capital punishment in the United
States. Mr. Farrell has devoted his life to mitigating some
of the horrors facing the world today. We are honored to
have him join us.”
Tickets to the luncheon are $25 and may be obtained online
at <www.vadp.org/>. Hadditien Mr—FarreH-wil bethe-
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For more information, contact Virginians for Alternatives to
the Death Penalty at # 434-960-7779 or
<office@vadp.org>.
Virginians for Alternatives to the Death Penalty is in its 27th
year of death penalty abolition advocacy.
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