A San Francisco Jewish comedian will host a benefit in honor of slain Iraqi Walid Hassan on Monday, Jan. 8 at the Make-Out Room, 3225 22nd St., San Francisco.
Nato Green, who describes his humor as “bookish, leftish, urbanish and Jewish,” will host the event, which will feature a mix of comedians, writers and video clips. Green is the founder of Iron Comic.
The event will benefit Reporters without Borders, an international agency that promotes press freedom worldwide.
Hassan was murdered during a kidnapping attempt in Iraq on Nov. 20. He was well known in his country as a comedian and the creator of a sketch comedy show.
“We want to raise awareness about Hassan’s life and work, and to send a message of support to those satirists overseas who work tougher crowds than we ever will,” Green said in a press release.
Writers appearing in the two-hour show are Daniel Handler of “Lemony Snicket,” Andrew Sean Greer of “Confessions of Max Tivoli,” Michelle Tea of “Valencia” and “Rent Girl,” and Tom Barbash of “On Top of the World.”
Comedians performing will be headliner Joe Klocek, Sal Calanni of sketch group Tossing Alice, Ali Mafi of the Axis of Evil Comedy Tour, podcast comedy phenomenon Mark Day, Samantha Chanse, Tessie Chua, Arthur Gaus and Kurt Weitzmann.
Donations of $10 to $20 are requested.