Two fundraisers for the Amanda Knox Defense Fund are coming up, one in West Seattle, the other in Columbus, Ohio. They happen to take place a day apart, so theoretically you could attend both, though no news yet if anyone will do so.

Shadowland Bar & Restaurant, here in West Seattle north of the Junction, at 4458 California Ave SW will host a fundraiser Saturday, Oct. 16, 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.

The Rumba Café in Columbus will hold their fundraiser the prior evening, Oct. 15 at 9:00 p.m.

The Shadowland event is sponsored by friends Al Semple who was born and raised in West Seattle, and Julie Rogers, of Sammamish. The Knox family is not involved in the organizing. Shadowland agreed to provide the venue and food, and live bands will perform pro bono, including jazz musician Jay Cates, and Katie Voss. Raffle prizes have been donated by Salty’s, Forsythe Studio, El Gaucho, Envy on Alki, and others. They are also working on a paypal site.

“We got the idea while we were working as extras on the movie, “Late Autumn,” which was filmed in Seattle,” said Semple. “That was last February or March.”

Semple and Rogers met while acting in a Taco Del Mar TV commercial. He played the customer and she worked behind the counter.

“It didn’t start rolling until a month or two ago,” added Rogers, who was crowned “Mrs. Seattle” for two years. “I’ve done fundraisers before. I feel passionate about this, and Al and I both know a lot of people.”

“I started to read bits and pieces of the trial and my initial gut reaction was telling me Amanda was innocent,” said Semple. “Now I read about the case daily. There’s been more evidence that she is innocent than not. That’s my opinion. The knife they show on the TV screen didn’t match up with the wounds. There’s no proof that she was there. She’s from West Seattle like I am so I felt I had to do something.”

“My heart goes out to Amanda’s parents, not being able to protect her from a distance,” said Rogers. “My condolences go to the Kercher family as well. The bottom line is closure, and the media doesn’t help the way they are portraying Amanda. It’s unfortunate, but the truth will come out in the end.”

The Columbus, Ohio fundraiser was the inspiration of Heather Coy, a resident there, with the assistance of Seattle-area resident Mark Waterbury, who authors a website in support of Knox, http://www.sciencespheres.com/ and is planning to release a book on the trial shortly.

“Heather is doing the heavy lifting,” said Waterbury. “I did the flyer, am an admin on her fundraising Facebook page, and have provided advice and support.” The FB page is called “A benefit for the Amanda Knox Defense Fund.”

So how did someone so far afield become interested in fundraising for a West Seattleite?

“Well, I saw Oprah,” said Coy. “I thought Amanda’s parents seemed like nice people. It seemed really tragic, but I figured that she must be guilty because I just had that general faith, I guess, that innocent people don't just go to prison like that, for no reason. I immediately went to the computer and began researching. I didn't stop for three days. I watched videos and read articles.

“What resonated with me about Amanda was that I also studied abroad,” Coy continued. “Like Amanda, I immersed myself in the culture. I was in France for six weeks. Some of the other Americans with me found it odd that I so fully immersed myself in the culture. Amanda reminded me of my 20 year-old self. I also thought of my daughter, who is 10, and how that could one day be my daughter. I see no reason why this couldn't be happening to anyone around me. It just happened to be Amanda. My friends here believe in her innocence. “