04/21/04 00:00 | 257 W Day 9: Los Angeles
We just returned from our biggest event yet: 2,000 people came out to help launch The Exception to the Rulers at the Immanuel Presbyterian Church! The event was a fundraiser for Pacifica station KPFK, and the two great indy bookstores Midnight Special and EsoWon cooperated to handle the book sales.Standing on the pulpit and peering out at the sea of faces overflowing the floor and balcony was awesome and thrilling. You see, writing a book a is solitary craft. You descend into your writing cave, scribble away, hope that what you say makes sense, and pray that others will be interested. When we finished the manuscript, it was like emerging into the daylight. You blink a few times to re-acclimate, then wait for the reponse, if any. So it gives us great hope and inspiration to see so many people supporting independent media, and searching out the voices missing from the corporate press.
Some highlights of the evening:
- Amy was given the Upton Sinclair Award for Freedom of Expression from the Southern California ACLU. The award was presented to her by activist, author and former California state senator Tom Hayden
- Jerry Quickley, hip hop artist and host of the show “Beneathg the Surface” on KPFK, whipped the crowd into a frenzy. He was a hard act to follow!