Sections
Log in
Top News
U.S. News World News Featured Voices
Odd News
Entertainment
Movies Music TV
Sports
Soccer NFL NBA MLB NHL Golf Horse Racing Tennis Col. Football Col. Basketball
Photos
News Entertainment Sports Features Archives
More...
Defense Featured Science Health Archive Almanac
About Feedback
About Feedback
Search
Movies
April 28, 2013 / 3:31 PM

Michael Moore honors librarians at Notable Books event

LANSING, Mich., April 28 (UPI) -- Award-winning U.S. filmmaker Michael Moore saluted librarians, saying they are "among the most dangerous people in society."

Moore's comments came Saturday during his keynote speech at the Library of Michigan's 10th Annual Night for Notables -- an annual event to honor 20 books written by Michigan authors, The Detroit News reported.

During his speech, Moore reflected on a dispute he had with publisher Harper-Collins about his 2002 book "Stupid White Men." The publisher, he said, continued to delay the release of the book.

"They said, 'You can still be against Bush, but just tone it down!'" Moore said, adding the publisher threatened to toss out the 50,000 copies they had already printed if he did not change parts of the book.

Later, Moore said he was speaking in front of a union group and aired his grievance with the publisher. A librarian happened to be in his audience.

"She was on a librarian listserv [an early Web discussion group], and apparently she wrote a letter to the other librarians, telling them that Harper-Collins wouldn't publish the book, and here's why," Moore said.

"A few days later I got a call from my editor at Harper-Collins, screaming: 'What did you tell the librarians?' I said, 'I didn't tell the librarians anything!' 'Well they're out there picketing us. In Manhattan!'" the filmmaker said. "Essentially the publisher was afraid, because the message would be to other writers, if you sign with Harper-Collins, you're signing with a censor. You might not want to do that.

"Huge egg on their face," Moore said. "But the most important thing it did was to remind me that a single person can effect change. We should have a Rosa Parks holiday to tell people, don't just sit there, do something. We need to dispel the great lie that you can't do anything about things."

  • Topics
  • Michael Moore
  • Rosa Parks
Follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for more UPI news and photos.

Trending Stories

Charlize Theron, KiKi Layne to star in Netflix's 'Old Guard'
Peter Frampton announces summer, fall farewell tour
The 1975, Dua Lipa win big at the 2019 Brit Awards
Lifetime casts its Prince Harry, Meghan Markle in new TV movie
Monkees stars Michael Nesmith, Micky Dolenz mourn Peter Tork

Photo Gallery

 
The 1975, Dua Lipa walk Brit Awards red carpet

Latest News

Four Venezuelan troops defect amid blockade of aid
Tainted booze in India kills 85 people, sickens hundreds
Pentagon to send another 1,000 troops to Mexican border
Ariana Grande's 'Thank U, Next' tops the U.S. album chart
Reports: Standup comedian Brody Stevens dead at 48
 
Back to Article
/
Back to top
About UPI Contact Feedback Advertisements Submit News Tips
Copyright © 2019 United Press International, Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Terms of UsePrivacy Policy