[IPSM] Alternative Bookshop - EVICTED! (August 18th, 2004)

[aaron at resist.ca]

(Une version française de cette communiqué va suivre dans les prochaines
quelques heures)

(PLEASE DISTRIBUTE WIDELY)
Those who haved passed by the Alternative Bookshop (Montreal's anarchist
bookshop at 2033 boul. St-Laurent) today will have noticed that the
collective has left and all the stock has been removed.  In effect, we
were evicted by the AEELI, the collective which controls the building, and
the Coalition of Libertarian Distributors, the group which has been
boycotting us which non-coincidentally controls the AEELI.

Following their coup, the AEELI will be opening a new bookshop in that
space, and our collective will be looking for a new space to begin
operating in the near future.

In the meantime, questions, comments, and messages of solidarity and
support to our collective can be sent to alternative at riseup.net.  We will
also be setting up a website shortly for those to publicly express what
they've been feeling amidst this conflict.

Below is the resolution which was passed with consensus by our collective
on August 12th, 2004.  We encourage you to read on.

More information to come.

In solidarity,
the Alternative Bookshop collective, Montreal

---------------------------

Proposal for a new bookshop

Whereas the Coalition of Libertarian Distributors took control of the
AEELI by means of a campaign of slander, harassment and intimidation,
justifying its takeover with a series of serious but unproven allegations
against four members (Aidan, Dale, Karl and Moishe)

Whereas the Coalition of Libertarian Distributors refused several
proposals that no structural changes to the AEELI take place until after a
neutral committee had been set up to examine the foundation of their
charges but instead proceeded with their takeover of the AEELI

Whereas the four members of the AEELI (Aidan, Dale, Karl, Moishe) have
been permanently expelled from the association after refusing to defend
themselves in front of a tribunal consisting of the very same individuals
who were accusing them in the first place

Whereas Jen, a bookshop member, quit the AEELI after repeated written
attacks and accusations

Whereas the other reaction to the various campaigns of slander and
intimidation on the part of the other new members of the AEELI has ranged
from silence to active participation

Whereas numerous members of the bookshop collective have been harassed,
humiliated, and insulted by current members of the AEELI
>
Whereas over the last year at least nine members have left the bookshop
collective because of the ongoing conflict with the AEELI and Coalition of
Libertarian Distributors
>
 Whereas members of the AEELI have been spotted going through documents
in the bookshop after hours and without consent
>
Whereas the AEELI, as controlled by the Coalition of Libertarian
Distributors, has adopted an antagonistic relationship with the bookshop,
treating it not as an integral part of the building project but as the
most hostile landlord would treat their most defenseless tenant
>
> Whereas the bookshop collective has been unable to order any books in
the last 6 months due to the ongoing conflict
>
Whereas despite all attempts to come to an agreement, the Coalition of
Libertarian Distributors, which now controls the AEELI, continues to
conduct a boycott of the bookshop

Whereas the Coalition of Libertarian Distributors, which now controls the
AEELI, has refused repeated requests to explain why it did not show up for
a scheduled meeting to discuss the bookshop

Whereas the present Board of Directors of the AEELI, controlled by the
representatives of the Coalition of Libertarian Distributors, has ignored
all communication from the bookshop and refuses to confirm or deny wheter
or not it is responsible for removing the bookshop's chequebook from the
store

Whereas despite early promises to respect the autonomy of the bookshop
collective we now find that the AEELI plans to evict our collective and
replace it with a bookshop under their direction

Whereas it has come to our attention that the same individuals,
representatives of the Coalition of Libertarian Distributors, that are now
controlling the AEELI, seem to be employing similar heavy-handed tactics
in order to manipulate other anti-authoritarian political collectives

> Whereas the new AEELI has neglected the building, and as pipes have
burst and doors have been broken, the bookshop has been forced to handle
the problems on our own
>
> Whereas the bookshop collective has been stagnant over the last 6 months
due to low morale caused by this conflict
>
> Whereas we could use a better bookshop name, a space that doesn't freeze
up in the winter, and neighbours who care for our well-being
>
> Whereas our revolutionary potential has been sucked dry by the
capitalists and cops masquerading as anarchists in the AEELI
>
> WE HEREBY PROPOSE:
>
> That the bookshop collective leave our store at 2033 St-Laurent
>
> That we widely and publicly denounce the AEELI for their mismanagement
and anti-social, anti-revolutionary behaviour
>
> That we establish an outreach committee to seek the support and
> participation of other anarchists, anarchist groups, and militant
radicals in the creation of a new anti-authoritarian and bookshop.
>