Revolution Books in Chelsea Targeted by “Pro-Police” Attacks and Threats
January 14, 2015 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us
In the wake of nationwide demonstrations against police murders of unarmed youth of color, Revolution Books in Chelsea has been singled out as a special target of thuggish pro-police wrath.
Revolution Books' front window. The image was created in 1999 by the nationally known artist Dread Scott.
This poster in the Revolution Books window was created in 1999 by nationally known artist Dread Scott. On New Year’s Eve a man entered Revolution Books, ripped the "Danger, Police in Area" poster out of the store's front window, tried to tear it in half, then ran off. Later, someone dumped an outdoor book table into the street.
A reactionary cop blog has posted comments about Revolution Books’ store window like: "If I'm in the neighborhood I'm gonna throw a rock," "If someone smashes the window steals the sign, who they gonna call?" and "Where are the phucking drone strikes when you need one the most."
The store has also received threatening phone calls and emails like: "hope you go out of business. Better yet? When your business or your home is robbed, I truly hope the officers of the 13th precinct take their sweet time responding, if at all." Obviously fabricated "reviews" of Revolution Books have been posted on Yelp and threatening comments have been posted to the store’s Facebook page: "When ur stupid store gets robbed at gunpoint don't call 911" and "This place is horrible. While there, the owner was shouting all kinds of racial slurs to a customer. Then I saw a huge rat running around inside the store..." Some of these “reviewers” and commenters have NYPD emblems on their Facebook pages and actually identify themselves as cops.
Revolution Books has opened its door to forums in support of the movement to halt police violence. It distributes posters for this movement and Revolution newspaper, and in early December hosted an evening of music, poetry and art called "Ferguson Is Everywhere!" featuring major poets, performers and visual artists. In mid-November, Revolution Books was co-host of the major dialogue between Cornel West and Bob Avakian, “Revolution and Religion: The Fight for Emancipation and the Role of Religion,” attended by 1,900 people at Riverside Church. Revolution Books manager Clark Kissinger describes the store as “The place where people come to find the books and the engagement about why the world is the way it is and the possibility of a radically new and much better society.”
Kissinger says "Revolution Books is not going to back off one inch from its support of this beautiful new upsurge to end police murder and brutality. Standing in support of this upsurge is one part of how RB is at the center of a movement for revolution based on the path breaking work of Bob Avakian to bring about a radically new society that is overcoming all the inequality and oppression of the world today. We are proudly keeping Dread Scott's art work in the store's window and making it available on our web site. We call on everyone who cares about artistic, literary and political expression against the police murder of Black and Latino youth to post Dread Scott’s art work on their web sites and in their windows. I invite all who oppose the suppression of political and artistic resistance to visit, to financially support, to stand with Revolution Books against these attacks, and to attend a meeting at the store at 7pm on Wednesday evening January 14 to take on these attacks.”
Revolution Books is a not-for-profit company with an all-volunteer staff. It is located at 146 W. 26th Street and has been in business since 1978.
For more information call: 212-691-3345.
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