Actor Mike Farrell to Speak Out Against the Death Penalty at City of West Hollywood Human Rights Speakers Series Event on Tuesday, October 22nd.

City Desks & Lifestyle Editors

WEST HOLLYWOOD--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct. 16, 2002

Please Note Change in Speaker: Actor Tony Shalhoub

of TV Series "Monk" Will Provide Introductions

Death Penalty Focus President and television celebrity Mike Farrell will be the special guest speaker at the City of West Hollywood's Human Rights Speakers Series event on Tuesday, October 22, 2002 at 7 p.m. in the Pacific Design Center's Green Building SilverScreen Theatre located at 8687 Melrose Avenue. Human rights activist and actor Tony Shalhoub of the hit TV series "Monk" and West Hollywood City Councilmember John Heilman will provide introductions. Admission and parking are free.

Entitled "Why I'm Against the Death Penalty: Four Stories," the event will feature anti-death penalty activists including speakers from Death Penalty Focus, an organization dedicated to the abolition of capital punishment through grassroots efforts.

"Public opinion on the death penalty appears to be changing. There have been a number of cases where the wrong person has been sentenced to death. Our distinguished panel of speakers will provide a great deal of insight and perspective regarding this important issue," said West Hollywood City Councilmember John Heilman.

Speakers for this event will include capital punishment opponents Kate Lowenstein, National Organizer of Murder Victims' Families for Reconciliation, Sue Gunawardena-Vaughn, National Director of the Program to Abolish the Death Penalty, Amnesty International U.S.A. and Aundre Herron, Attorney Activist and Death Penalty Focus board member. An audience question-and-answer period will follow the panel presentation.

In addition, a "Call to Action" reception will be held immediately after the program featuring refreshments and a chance for audience members to further discuss the issues and find out how to get more involved with Death Penalty Focus. Founded in 1988, Death Penalty Focus is a non-profit organization dedicated to the abolition of capital punishment through grassroots organizing, research, and the dissemination of information about the death penalty and its alternatives. With more than 10,000 members nationwide, Death Penalty Focus has an Advisory Board composed of community and religious leaders, celebrities, writers and representatives of labor and human rights organizations.

The City of West Hollywood Human Rights Speakers Series was developed in 2000 to expand community awareness and understanding about critical human rights concerns that challenge our daily lives. This distinguished program brings some of the leading human rights experts to West Hollywood to discuss local, national and international issues. The inaugural Human Rights Speakers Series was held in November 2000 and featured the international organization Doctors Without Borders.

"Why I'm Against the Death Penalty: Four Stories" is sponsored by the City of West Hollywood, the Pacific Design Center, Le Montrose Suite Hotel, The West Hollywood Convention and Visitors Bureau, Buzz Coffee, The Abbey, Cutting Edge Productions, Inc., Urth Caffe, Luxury Edition, House of Blues and Whole Foods. To RSVP for this event, call 323/848-6823.

For more information on the City's Human Rights Speakers Series, call Fran Solomon, Deputy to City Councilmember John Heilman, at 323/848-6460.