Article 53BSF An anarchist community bookstore had the best response to getting robbed

An anarchist community bookstore had the best response to getting robbed

by
Thom Dunn
from on (#53BSF)

Firestorm Bookstore Co-op is a collectively-owned radical bookstore and community event space in Asheville, North Carolina that describes itself as an essentially anti-capitalist business, in as much as they can be.

And on May 7, someone smashed their through their window and robbed the cash register. (They also behind a live bird, although it's possible the bird also entered later.)

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Well, someone did a crime. 1f914.png This morning our co-operative was robbed. Someone smashed in the front door, emptied the register, and left behind a live bird (also totally possible that the bird came in separately). Hopefully they also took a good book, because they definitely didn't leave with a lot of money. Y'all, the anarchist bookstore is not sitting on piles of cash. 1f644.png Crime elsewhere! . This is not a great time to take a financial hit, but we're OK. We got a lot of text messages from folks who saw the mess and were concerned <3. If anyone wants to help us cover the losses (looks like about $150 in cash plus $450 in physical damage) now would be a cool time to buy a book or five. . Also, no, we didn't call the police. There really isn't anything that law enforcement could do for us that we can't do for ourselves and if someone is desperate enough to risk their freedom for $150, maybe we've all failed them. It's tough feeling vulnerable, and seeing our storefront broken open brought up a lot of emotions, including anger-but incarceration isn't justice and punishment can only multiply harm. . #feministbookstore #indiebookstore #softoncrime #toughongrease #onhaywood #firestormcoop

A post shared by Firestorm Books & Coffee (@firestormcoop) on May 7, 2020 at 2:44pm PDT

What's cool was the store's response. They only lost about $150 in cash, plus there's about $450 in physical damage. "Hopefully they also took a good book, because they definitely didn't leave with a lot of money," they said on Facebook. "Y'all, the anarchist bookstore is not sitting on piles of cash. 1f644.png Crime elsewhere!" But also, in keeping with their principles:

Also, no, we didn't call the police. There really isn't anything that law enforcement could do for us that we can't do for ourselves and if someone is desperate enough to risk their freedom for $150, maybe we've all failed them. It's tough feeling vulnerable, and seeing our storefront broken open brought up a lot of emotions, including anger-but incarceration isn't justice and punishment can only multiply harm.

It's a hard time for any business right now, but it's cool seeing one as radical as this still stand by its values.

Firestorm Bookstore Co-op on Facebook

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