A report from “Revolution Books Without Walls”:

Revolution Newspaper Reading Circle Pledges to Raise $400 for Revolution Books New York City Indiegogo Campaign

July 28, 2015 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us

 

One late afternoon last week a Revolution newspaper reading circle set up folding chairs around a table on the wide sidewalk in front of the Harlem storefront where Revolution Books is planning to open in September. Big funds have to be raised to renovate the space so that Revolution Books can re-open. The reading circle leaned a large Stolen Lives poster display against the building and began their discussion of the July 20 Revolution editorial, "An Audacious Plan... And the Ways to Make It Happen."

Everybody moving up and down the sidewalk past the circle meeting took note. Many people greeted the scene with smiles and raised fists. "Yes, yes, yes," shouted an older Black woman, "Revolution Books!" She slowed but did not stop. But many others did stop, and almost immediately a scene developed. While some people gathered around the reading and discussion at the table, others stood near the Stolen Lives poster talking to circle members who had left the table to connect with them. People expressed their outrage at murder by police and the system that treats Black and Brown people as less than human. Sandra Bland was on the minds of everybody. They heard about “Rise Up October,” Revolution Books, and the film, BA Speaks: Revolution—Nothing Less. They gave money, took materials, and arranged to hook up with the revolution.

At the circle table some people joined in the discussion. "Genocide!" said one brother after hearing the beginning of the editorial read a second time. "That's right. Call it what it is." Another man, with his possessions in a shopping cart, wondered if the police and the system could be stopped. There was a serious tone to much of the back and forth. At the same time there was a joy in people finding Revolution Books, the circle, and each other.

The father of a young man infamously murdered by the NYPD happened by. He was warmly greeted by everyone. He pointed the picture of his son on the Stolen Lives poster and talked about working with Carl Dix to make October 24 be "something really big." He lives near Revolution Books and said that he would like to be part of our next discussion.

One sister with two small children in tow stopped and heard about Revolution—Nothing Less and the t-shirt with those words. She said she wanted the t-shirt and left to get money. She returned half an hour later with $10. She got a shirt—left again and returned again wearing it doing Vanna White modeling gestures.

For an hour and a half people talked, made donations, took materials, got connected to revcom.us, made plans to get involved. Later the circle decided to raise $100 a week for four weeks on that street for Revolution Books' indiegogo campaign.

 

 

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