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.)
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. 🙄 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