A Defiant Day in Berkeley Defending and Supporting Revolution Books!

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From Revolution Books, Berkeley:

In the face of another fascist attack on Revolution Books in Berkeley—a "No to Marxism" protest by a group of pro-Trump fascists—people poured into Revolution Books and into the streets of Berkeley to say NO! Starting around 10 am, anti-fascist protesters started gathering in People's Park, and then took off marching toward the tiny fascist rally. Members of the Revolution Club agitated in the crowd, and as the march passed the bookstore, the chants rang out, "When Rev Books is under attack, what do we do? Stand up, fight back!" At 11:30 am, Revolution Books held a press conference to a packed crowd of supporters, new and old. After Reiko Redmonde and Rafael Kadaris spoke on behalf of the bookstore and the National Revolution Tour, we heard statements of support from artists, poets, authors, bookstore owners, local political figures, and others.

At the end of the press conference, there was a commotion outside of the bookstore as the fascists tried to march toward the store. Bookstore supporters and anti-fascists linked arms in front of the store, while many pushed forward into the street, driving the few flag-waving fascists back up Telegraph Avenue, accompanied by over 50 heavily armed riot pigs. Protesters chanted "1, 2, 3, 4, slavery, genocide and war, 5, 6, 7, 8, America was never great," and "Nazi book burners, get the fuck out of Berkeley!" After the fascists left, dozens of curious University of California, Berkeley students—who received an email the day before from the university administration warning them to stay away from the protests—stood around Bancroft and Telegraph Avenue discussing what had happened and digging into questions of reform vs revolution, and capitalism vs communism, with the Revolution Club.

Throughout the day, hundreds of people came in and out of the store, browsing and mingling, and buying books. Most importantly, lots and lots of new people were introduced to this intellectual, political, and cultural center of a movement for an actual revolution, and the new communism and leadership of Bob Avakian that is at the core of that revolution. One Cal freshman who just moved to Berkeley was thrilled by the whole experience today and bought BAsics by Bob Avakian because he said he had to find out what this is all about. This anti-communist counter-revolutionary attack was definitely met with MORE REVOLUTION!

Stay tuned to revcom.us and to Revolution Books Berkeley at Twitter.com/RevolutionBksB and Facebook.com/RevolutionBooks for latest developments.

Livestream from Revolution Books, Berkeley, September 1

After the press conference, there was a commotion outside of the bookstore as the fascists tried to march toward the store. Bookstore supporters and anti-fascists linked arms in front of the store.

 

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