Over 150 indie booksellers in the US have expressed solidarity with Palestine

U.S. booksellers have joined forces to demand an immediate and permanent ceasefire. An open letter, published Dec. 10, garnered signatures from notable bookstores including Third Place Books in Seattle, Powell’s Books in Portland, First Light Books in Austin, Harvard Book Store in Cambridge, among others.

“Booksellers are in a unique position to promote and amplify voices from all parts of the world. As institutions across the globe crack down on freedom of speech and expression, punishing those who speak out against the ongoing annihilation of Palestinians, we are using our voices to tell our government that their actions do not represent us; to demand an end to the violence; and to promote empathy for ALL people — the required first step to any lasting solution,” the letter says.

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Many of these bookstores offer a diverse selection of translated titles from around the world and invite other booksellers and the literary community to “combat Islamophobia and antisemitism” by elevating Palestinian writers and stories in bookstores, sharing information, and protesting to support the people of Palestine.

“As workers in America, our money is filtered into the weapons of war that are being used against schools, refugee camps, hospitals, and civilians. The same weapons of war with names stolen from the language of Indigenous people, used against another Indigenous population. We acknowledge our inheritance of a legacy of Indigenous colonization, and accept our responsibility to work towards decolonization. The advocacy for the safety of Palestinians and their land is part of that responsibility”, booksellers claim.

The open letter follows numerous statements, such as open letters from Jewish writers, artists, and activists; Publishers for Palestine; and Writers Against the War on Gaza.

The open letter is available here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdKqGjlTDZnCH4E881HMmWXuKd2csZQnE5GB3JeoPYcUyRLBQ/viewform

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