Scott Huver It’s been over 25 years since actor and activist James Cromwell played one of his most indelible roles, the kindly farmer Arthur Hoggett in ”Babe,” but he’s been both a friend of animals and a champion of their rights for even longer.
During Friday evening’s 23rd annual gala for Mercy for Animals – dedicated to preventing cruelty to farmed animals and advocating for compassionate food choices – Cromwell received the organization’s Hope Award for his steadfast commitment to furry and feathered causes, a dedication that’s seen him frequently ending up in handcuffs as a result of his passionate protests.
He was feted along with additional honorees: author and content creator Joanne L. Molinaro, a.k.a. the Korean Vegan, and influential vegan chef Babette Davis. “[My arrest record] really isn’t such a big deal,” Cromwell told Variety with a chuckle as he arrived at the Gala at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, saying his experiences being booked and mug-shotted was well worth raising awareness and challenging unnecessarily cruel institutions, often in concert with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. “We’ve been arrested a couple of times and it seems to make a difference.
It would be not just as fun if it didn’t,” added the 82-year-old Oscar nominee. “And there is progress being made, which is a counterpoint to the despair and grief that you feel about what you see mostly around us, which is unconsciousness and cruelty and abuse.” Cromwell raised his hand to illustrate his advantage when the authorities clamp down on him. “This is the club: the nice white skin,” he explained, noting that he thinks his whiteness has proven to be a shield against excessive treatment when under arrest, rarely
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