London anarchist bookfair collective reply to the open letter bookfairfriend uncategorized 20 comments november 2, 2017 november 10, 2017 blog at. Shout out to rent strike london and london renters union organising to help renters in this fucked up time. They have always been open to more involvement in running the bookfair. Nov 25, 2017 uk transgender rights row intensifies as book fair is cancelled. Ironic that the reduced turnout might leave them open to attack from. London feminist activists one of the groups that signed the letter. On the 28th october ill be hosting an hour long talk at the london anarchist bookfair, entitled can cannabis save the world. After the 2015 london anarchist bookfair, attendees directed their. Norwich anarchist bookfair 2pm11pm at bedfords crypt, 1 old post office yard, bedford street, nr2 1sl. In light of the absence of the london anarchist bookfair this year freedom and housmans have got together to organise a decentralised anarchist festival on the 20th 21st of october, and wed like you to get involved.
Despite a change of venue announcement, the bookfair is well in hand with stalls confirmed from the anarchist federation, solidarity federation, hunt sabs, pm press, eleusinian press, the cunningham amendment and many more, plus headline talks on the norwich soup movement, freedom. A earlier statement was posted on uk on 30102017 immediately following the transphobic leafleting at the london anarchist bookfair of 28th october 2017 and is available here. There are no tickets and no need to book, just come along. Response to london anarchist bookfair 2017 sep 23, 2019 6 pp. Helen steel speaking at a womans place is on the platform. Amongst his books were anarchism, arguments for and against originally published by cienfuegos press 1, the floodgates of anarchy cowritten with stuart christie and his autobiography, i couldnt paint golden angels. The bookfair can never be the dreamed of utopia the open letter imagines, despite all our desires and dedication. On saturday october 29th, 2016, leila al shami and robin yassin kassab, authors of the book burning country. At the london anarchist bookfair 2017, a group of terfs predictably showed up to spread their hateful propaganda. Nov 21, 2017 for all its problems over the years i think the loss of future largescale and open public london anarchist book fairs is a serious and sad loss to open discussion of radical and even sometimes. The venue this year is park view school, west green road, london n15 3qr, near turnpike lane and seven sisters tube stations. The nyc anarchist book fair aims to offer a space for people to connect with one another as well as to provide broader access to the rich and varied spectrum of anarchist ideas and practices.
Most british anarchist groups attend such as freedom press, anarchist federation, kate sharpley library, class war, solidarity federation and the wombles. Workshops will only take place sunday, november 10th. This years london anarchist bookfair will be on saturday 28th october from 10am to 7pm. The bristol anarchist bookfair 2018 has had to cancel the booking with our venue.
Due to lastminute change of venue, the bookfair tabling will only take place saturday, november 9th. Nov 29, 2017 the statement was released in response to an open letter titled, response to london anarchist bookfair 2017 which alleges the event organizers chose to step in via london anarchist bookfair uk gender identity watch. Come out whether youre a seasoned anarchist, excited to learn about anarchism, a curious skeptic, a lover of books, or if you are simply becoming disillusioned with. Leila al shami would define herself as an anarchist. In five articles,,, peace news is documenting the free speech conflict at this years 2017 london anarchist bookfair. The 2019 boston anarchist bookfair boston anarchist bookfair. So, the campaign starts here to rebuild the working. Read helens statement on events at the london anarchist bookfair 2017. Were a little late coming out with our list of the years anarchist bookfairs, having missed what was by all accounts a very successful showing in derry on january 27th with a bigger turnout than in 2017 with a huge variety of publications on show theres also a big gap in this years list at the moment, with the glaring absence of the london anarchist bookfair in the october. On 7 april, the organisers of the liverpool anarchist bookfair excluded two people from the gathering, which was taking place in the huge blacke community arts centre near the city centre. Oct 29, 2016 london anarchist bookfair october 29, 2016 by leila al shami today i was invited to speak at the london anarchist bookfair, an event i was excited to attend, to talk about the situation in syria. Today, it is now increasingly associated with the farright. Uk transgender rights row intensifies as book fair is cancelled. Statement following london anarchist bookfair of october 2017.
We write today as a broad collective of anarchist and activist groups, networks and individuals in london and across the uk. Again we hope that our second annual book fair will be used as an opening in. Sat 28th oct 2017 london anarchist bookfair london. Below is the statement we sent out in respect of this on the friday before the bookfair. Meltzer was a cofounder of the anarchist newspaper black flag and was a prolific writer on anarchist topics. There are many serious problems with these statements.
Organising an annual event attended by over 2000 people is a huge amount of work finding and negotiating with venue providers, organising the equipment needed, booking stalls and meetings, printing and distributing leaflets and programmes, as well as finding overseas speakers and the money to pay for them. We were shut down by a guy called amir taaki a britishiranian who claims to be a developer of bitcoin and someone who. This years theme is the reading rainbow of resistance, to reflect the need for solidarity amongst diverse groups, as well as solid education through reading and taking in a variety of perspectives so that we can resist the increasing oppression that is. Reports that i hear are all about confrontation between elements within the anarchist movement, hardly advertises solidarity and cooperation. Humboldt grassroots has been hosting the humboldt anarchist book fair for 9 years now. Dissident island radio 01 december 2017 episode 204. At first, as in previous years, we were inclined to not respond to these statements. By the dawn of the twentieth century, anarchists across the world had embraced the term.
London anarchist bookfair uk gender identity watch. An open letter was subsequently published with a list of demands directed. A few days ago, someone sent us the following open letter. Points raised in the open letter call for a radically different event, with a much more centralized program, organized or tightly overseen by the collective. It has been over a month since the london anarchist bookfair and as a movement we are still reeling, with deep divisions between people who had respect for each other and once worked well together. The loneliness of the crowd another reflection on the events at this years london anarchist bookfair uk anarchists are no strangers to conflict or violence.
Organising an annual event attended by over 2000 people is a huge amount of work finding and negotiating with venue providers, organising the equipment needed, booking stalls and meetings, printing and distributing leaflets and programmes, as well as finding overseas speakers and the money to. We are writing in response to events at the 2017 london anarchist bookfair labf. As many people know there was an incident towards the end of the 2017 london anarchist bookfair. If you know of others please contact us with information. Statement on events at anarchist bookfair 2017 by helen. May 30, 2017 the other is a open letter signed by a collection of groups and individuals only two i recognise as anarchy groups. This year the bookfair is on what we hope is a very brief hiatus. Sunday september 30th, 2018 red black green anarchism, event 0. The organizers of the london anarchist bookfair released a statement announcing the current bookfair collective will not be organising a bookfair in 2018, potentially ending the events 34year run. May 30, 2017 the massive irony is that the london anarchist bookfair is so well organised, works so hard to be inclusive, and on such an impressive scale, and yet it is they that are packing it in. The statement was released in response to an open letter titled, response to london anarchist bookfair 2017 which alleges the event. Bookfairs provide a space where likeminded people can come together to reaffirm old friendships, make new ones, discuss all things anarchist and anticapitalist and. London anarchist bookfair gender identity watch freer.
Transphobia at the london anarchist bookfair 2017 libcom. The leaflets handed out at the anarchist bookfair suggested that. Class struggle anarchist statement on bookfair events and. Thats a total of 7 anarchy groups unhappy with the anarchist bookfair all as it happens class struggle anarchist groups i dont know if that has significance, youd have to tell me. Park view school west green road, london, n15 3qr the bookfair is open to the public and free to attend. A statement in solidarity with the london anarchist bookfair collective. The london anarchist bookfair has been a crucial fixture in the anarchist calendar since 1983. We are a significant number of anarchist federation members, including all surviving founding members, who resigned from that organisation on 171217. Another reflection on the events at this years london anarchist. Nov 02, 2017 i was in the process of writing a longer article around the events at the anarchist bookfair on saturday, but i am also trying to stay on top of the rest of my life while dealing with the horrendous bullying of people around me which is underway by some trans activists and allies. As a result the fullscale bookfair has been postponed, and a smaller event will. An open letter was subsequently published with a list of demands directed at and to be met.
Today i was invited to speak at the london anarchist bookfair, an event i was excited to attend, to talk about the situation in syria. As usual several thousand anarchists and fellow travellers from diverse tendencies attended, ran stalls. I wasnt at the london anarchist bookfair this year, but from reports i have heard, i dont think i would have enjoyed it. Yet we feel that the way the conflict unfolded at this years london anarchist bookfair was deeply disturbing and should have nothing to do with anarchism. Statement by brighton anarchist black cross in support of the london anarchist bookfair collective response to the open letter from brighton abc fb page.
The regular london anarchist bookfair has been a vital component of the. Bristol anarchist bookfair saturday may 12th 2018 taking. As usual several thousand anarchists and fellow travellers from diverse tendencies attended, ran stalls, held. Sep 21, 2017 this years london anarchist bookfair will be on saturday 28th october from 10am to 7pm. The loneliness of the crowd another reflection on the. Syrians in revolution and war, were invited by the london anarchist book fair to give a talk on syria. A member of the london anarchist bookfair collective discussing their recent decision to step away from bookfair organising and where this leaves the movement 00.
Nov 06, 2017 below we share a statement regarding events at the london anarchist bookfair 2017, written by some supporters of the bookfair. We need your support to keep delivering quality journalism thats open and independent. London anarchist bookfair 2016 its nearly time for anarchist christmas in the uk, with the 2016 london anarchist bookfair being staged on saturday october 29, from 10am to 7pm. Response to london anarchist bookfair 2017 we write today as a broad collective of anarchist and activist groups, networks and individuals in london and across the uk. Now is the perfect time to explore these ideas and practices and to bring them into play in our communities and the world. Uk transgender rights row intensifies as book fair is. It is vital that the tradition of the bookfair remains and the work of.
Sat 28th oct 2017 london anarchist bookfair london page. My statement on events at london anarchist bookfair 2017. Most british anarchist groups attend such as freedom press, anarchist federation, kate sharpley library, class war, solidarity federation and the. The statement was released in response to an open letter titled, response to london anarchist bookfair 2017 which alleges the event organizers chose to step in and offer protection and support to people promoting transphobic hate speech and that the event allows for transphobia and transmisogyny to go unchecked. The british bookfair started in 1983, and it has become the largest anarchist event in the british calendar, and is a combination of stalls, talks and workshops by anarchist groups and campaigns. Continuing the mission to raise awareness outside of the cannabis bubble, hastings cannabis club activist lulu fitzgerald will be speaking at the anarchists bookfair in london this october. I was in the process of writing a longer article around the events at the anarchist bookfair on saturday, but i am also trying to stay on top of the rest of my life while dealing with the horrendous bullying of people around me which is underway by some trans activists and allies. The bookfair is organised by a small voluntary collective of five, with a wider group of supporters who help out with setting. We write today as a broad collective of anarchist and activist groups and networks in london and across the uk. After the 2015 london anarchist bookfair, attendees directed their antagonism towards a state target, with a protest at eurostar for its role in the border politics in calais and the imprisonment of migrants who had walked through the channel tunnel. The confrontation was in fact sparked by a bunch of violent men objecting to women daring to have an opinion, daring to talk to people, daring to say that we should be able to talk about gender. In fact, its main purpose seemed to attack the bookfair organisers. As usual several thousand anarchists and fellow travellers from diverse tendencies attended, ran stalls, held meetings and other activities. All of a sudden the anarchist bookfair is too middle class, too irrelevant.
Following a confrontation at this years london anarchist bookfair. London anarchist bookfair gender identity watch freer lives. Af statement and the bookfair open letter without that policy which would need. For all its problems over the years i think the loss of future largescale and open public london anarchist book fairs is a serious and sad loss to open discussion. In this spirit of rebellion, we invite you to come to the 2nd annual halifax anarchist bookfair. Class struggle anarchist statement on bookfair events and aftermath.
The boston anarchist bookfair gathers activists, organizers, and community members from boston and around the country for a weekend of books, workshops, and films. Balkan anarchist book fair barcelona spain bay area usa belfast bern boston usa bradford sao paulo brazil porto alegre brazil bristol chicago anarchist film fest usa dublin hamilton canada houston usa. Really hope its for one year only as the knowledge the collective have in putting this on cant be easily replicated years and years in the making. These disagreements came to a head over the differences in responses to events at the london anarchist bookfair in. Its nearly time for anarchist christmas in the uk, with the 2016 london anarchist bookfair being staged on saturday october 29, from 10am to 7pm. The other is a open letter signed by a collection of groups and individuals only two i recognise as anarchy groups. Brian bamford, a member of the northern anarchist network, was told in advance that he would not be allowed in, and was stopped at the door. Statement from the london anarchist bookfair collective 6th november 2016. The statement written by edinburgh af and also the open letter signed by. Announcing the 2nd annual halifax anarchist bookfair it.
Profession and movement anonymous mar 15, 2016 18 pp. We agree with the open letter on one thing, that we should all always be challenging ourselves and each other to widen liberation and ensure the bookfair is a safe and respectful event, drawing in communities, and reflecting them. As a result the fullscale bookfair has been postponed, and a smaller event will run on the same day at the black swan. Returning to tottenham after a successful run last year.
As may 1st rolls round reach out if you need help with your landlord were always willing to get the pitchforks out to resist an eviction. Below we share a statement regarding events at the london anarchist bookfair 2017, written by some supporters of the bookfair. A earlier statement was posted on uk on 30102017 immediately following the transphobic leafleting at the london anarchist bookfair of 28th october 2017 and is available here other statements include one. Response to london anarchist bookfair 2017 the anarchist. Over the last 30 years the london anarchist bookfair has grown to be a huge. A number of the signatories to the open letter are groups we know and. A statement in solidarity with the london anarchist bookfair. Amir taaki contacted us a week or so before the bookfair asking that he be given space to speak about rojava. If we as a movement, decide that this is what we want, many more of us will need to commit time and energy to organising and. The statement was released in response to an open letter titled, response to london anarchist bookfair 2017 which alleges the event organizers chose to step in and offer.
The origins of the anarchist bookfair are briefly recounted here, and the issues concerning free speech are the subject of this issues editorial here. Jan 01, 2018 the statement written by edinburgh af and also the open letter signed by a number of other groups not only supported the actions of those who sought to physically evict helen. Nov 02, 2017 on saturday 28th october the 2017 london anarchist bookfair took place in north london. London bookfair wont happen in 2018 news, nov 10th following a confrontation at this years london anarchist bookfair sparked by two people handing out antitrans leaflets, and a subsequent online firestorm, the bookfair organisers have released two statements on what happened, announcing they will not be holding one in 2018. Response to london anarchist bookfair 2017 october 2017.
Many statements have been written both supporting and condemning the organisers of the event. On saturday 28th october the 2017 london anarchist bookfair took place in north london. Nov 28, 2017 the statement was released in response to an open letter titled, response to london anarchist bookfair 2017 which alleges the event organizers chose to step in and offer protection and support to people promoting transphobic hate speech and that the event allows for transphobia and transmisogyny to go unchecked. A statement in solidarity with the london anarchist.
Open letter to extinction rebellion green anticapitalist front sep 6, 2019 3 pp. After two members of their group were kicked out, another one of them helen. The following statement was originally posted on the anarchist federation facebook page on 20112017 transgender day of rememberance. An open letter to the green party from womens voices matter. It is vital that the tradition of the bookfair remains and the work of spreading anarchist ideas continues. This is a list of some other anarchist book fairs around the world.
43 735 823 1161 1217 74 495 1399 1050 64 1534 631 536 111 224 1237 407 163 1254 1579 313 882 315 441 1204 413 139 1449 281 350 1420 1105 921 781 1418 1406 1336