at least he is free now. >> ruben cantu was an innocent man. young man. evidence to convict him, nothing much whatsoever. he was executed. >> richard reyna was not able to save ruben's life. the naacp hadn't hired him to invest the case until ten years after ruben's execution. >> as long as no one is held accountable, these things are going to continue. people are going to be falsely accused, sentenced to die or even executed. >> my brother was innocent. i want his name cured. when it all comes out, i want the state to come out and make it public and apologize to our family. the district attorney said, all we want is money. it ain't about the money. all the money in the world ain't going to bring my brother back. at least i'll have comfort knowing he has been cleared. >> while this case wasn't brought to lise olsen until 11 years after ruben was killed, for her, the stakes were clear. >> there has never been an executed offender in modern history exonerated. it was something that was going to be historic. it was going to be a story that was going to have

on august 23, 1994, the day before he was to be executed, ruben cantu received the reply -- clemencyou are hearing you recognize as actress susan sarand sarandon. she joins me now. she star a an anti-death penalty advocate and a lasting friendship with the person to the left of her on your screen, author and activist sister helen prejean. they join me now. i have always wondered as i have watched your career and what you did from the film -- i'm watched the film "dead man walking" in the theater. i've always wondered what got you to this very passionate stance and this involvement in this particular issue. >> the death penalty never made any sense to me. but it was more the love story there. between the two people and this idea that a hero doesn't just walk in knowing they're a hero. i like the fact that sister helen kept making mistakes and kept getting pulled in and there was something reluctant about her involvement initially and that she kept trying to find her way. and that what religious people do is love unconditionbly and is that even possible. and in the background you had t