A pioneer in the modern-day free press movement, ground-breaking publisher, and Joshua Tree resident Art Kunkin was honored on Memorial Day. Z107-7 reporter, and former LA Free Press writer David Haldane noted the honor…
When it comes to Memorial Day, most of us think of honoring those who’ve sacrificed in war. Veterans for Peace does too. But this past weekend, after their usual visit to a local cemetery, the Inland Empire chapter bestowed an honor of a different kind.
It was a lifetime achievement award to Art Kunkin, founding former publisher of the notorious Los Angeles Free Press and something of an iconic figure in Joshua Tree where he now lives.
Kunkin, 88, started the paper in 1964. Eventually it became one of the most widely distributed underground weeklies in America and a major mouthpiece for the counterculture of those years. It also became a strong advocate for leftwing causes
A member of the veteran’s group said they were honoring Kunkin for his contributions in the areas of tolerance, equality and LGBT issues. For Kunkin himself, it all must have had a slight taste of irony.
“I feel it’s helping me live forever,” he said of the award. “It means I have lots of friends.”
You can read a modern-day digital version of the old underground newspaper at LAFreePress.com. There you will find an almost complete archive of original articles from 1964 on, as well as current commentary on their relevance today.
