Actor Mike Farrell speaks on death penalty at Pitzer



By Wes Woods II, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 10/09/2008 08:44:04 PM PDT

CLAREMONT - Actor Mike Farrell jabbed away Wednesday at Vice
President Dick Cheney and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Farrell, best known as B.J. Hunnicutt from "M*A*S*H," spoke before
more than 200 people at Pitzer College about the politicians as well
as the death penalty.
Farrell used a combination of facts and humor to win over a mixed
crowd of senior citizens and students.
"There are those that do harm to others ... think Dick Cheney, for
example," Farrell said to loud cheers and laughter.
On a more serious note, Farrell rattled off statistics about people
in prison. He said one in 100 American adults are incarcerated, while
one in 36 Latino males, one in 15 black males and one in nine black
males between the age of 20 and 34 are in prison.
During the question-and- answer session after the presentation,
Farrell criticized Schwarzenegger because he "took `Tookie's life"
instead of keeping him in prison for life.
Tookie is Stanley "Tookie" Williams, the convicted gang leader who
was executed at San Quentin State Prison.
Schwarzenegger also refused to sign into law legislation that would
have helped inmates, Farrell said.
This would have called for widespread taping of interrogations that
would stop people from being beaten into submission; condemning the
use of a snitch, or prisoners who work with district attorneys to
help themselves; testimony without corroborating testimony; and
compensation for prisoners who have been exonerated.
Farrell also said that despite Democratic presidential candidate
Barack Obama's statements of being for the death penalty, "I'm of the
belief we're closer to the abolishment of the death penalty if Obama
is elected."
Farrell consistently echoed eliminating the death penalty, which he
said costs $90,000 per year per inmate because of the appeals.
There are 670 people on death row in California and the cost is $63.3
million annually, Farrell said.
"They usually die in prison before they're executed," he said.
Since 1979, when California reinstated the death penalty, Farrell
said there have been 13 executions.
More people have committed suicide or died from natural causes than
have been executed, he said.
Some audience members came away impressed with Farrell's speech.
"I'm inspired to get more involved," said Jim Wiswell, 64, of San
Dimas, who said he was undecided on the issue before.
Robert Davis, 69, of Claremont said Farrell gave a "powerful speech.
It was full of political reality and hope for change." Davis said.

wes.woods@inlandnew spapers
(909) 483-8549

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