Media Advisory
Revolution Books on the Fascist Assault on Politics and Prose Bookstore
Updated | revcom.us
The following statement was issued by Revolution Books in response to an April 27 attempt by neo-Nazis to disrupt a talk by Jonathan Metzl at Politics and Prose, a progressive independent bookstore just outside of Washington, DC. Metzl is a psychiatrist and professor at Vanderbilt University. He was reading from his book on the upsurge of white racism and its effects when a band of 10 white supremacists invaded the store, seized the front of the room, and chanted racist slogans. Members of the audience rose from their chairs in support of Metzl and the marchers left.
In its coverage of the attack, the Washington Post quoted from this statement and mentioned that Revolution Books in Berkeley has been attacked numerous times by right-wing groups. Other media outlets, like The Hill, have linked to the Post story. It’s a sign of the times that these kinds of fascist assaults are increasing. And this statement by Revolution Books, which reflects the principles of the store, is impacting the situation and setting the right terms.
Contact: Revolution Books Berkeley: RevolutionBooks@sbcglobal.net, Revolution Books New York: revbooksnyc@yahoo.com
Revolution Books in NYC and Berkeley express our solidarity with Politics and Prose bookstore in Washington, D.C. On Saturday, a group of white-supremacist thugs stormed into the store and chanted racist slogans while author Jonathan Metzl was reading from his book Dying of Whiteness: How the Politics of Racial Resentment Is Killing America's Heartland, the event that was part of the Antiracist Book Festival. This brazen assault came on the same day as the shooting at a synagogue in California.
The Trump-Pence fascist regime has emboldened these acts--escalating and legitimizing white supremacy, hatred of immigrants and Muslims, and antisemitism. These goons and killers are in fact part of a fascist strike force to consolidate the rule of fascism and to terrorize and intimidate people into accepting it. Bookstores and other institutions that value and promote critical thinking, the search for the truth, and social justice are in the cross-hairs. Revolution Books in Berkeley has been physically assaulted numerous times by fascists-racists in the last two years.
In these times people of conscience and conviction must come to the support of Politics and Prose. And, more, work to drive the Trump/Pence regime from power. We encourage people to watch the film of the talk by Bob Avakian The Trump/Pence Regime Must Go! In The Name of Humanity, We REFUSE to Accept a Fascist America. A Better World IS Possible.
Revolution Books is the political, intellectual, and cultural center of a movement for an actual revolution. This is a revolution to put a stop once and for all to the wars of empire, white supremacy, brutalization and degradation of women, and persecution of immigrants, and the destruction of the environment...a revolution to emancipate all of humanity.
We call on every person whose work, morality, and values aspire to a world of diversity, of overcoming the oppression of all peoples regardless of nationality, race, gender, or beliefs to stand with Politics and Prose and with authors and voices exposing this dangerous moment.
Andy Zee, spokesperson for Revolution Books
Raymond Lotta, Revolution Books, NYC
Reiko Redmonde, Revolution Books, Berkeley
Bob Avakian: "What are we facing?"
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