Bookmarks (bookshop)

Last updated

Bookmarks Bookshop Ltd
IndustryRetail bookshop
Founded1973
Founders Socialist Workers Party
Headquarters1 Bloomsbury Street, London
ProductsBooks, magazines, journals, DVDs, CDs, Trades Union Congress publications, merchandise
Website bookmarksbookshop.co.uk

Bookmarks is Britain's largest socialist bookshop. It was founded in 1973 by the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) and is based in Bloomsbury, London. The company has published books since 1979 and is the official bookseller for the Trades Union Congress.

Contents

The bookshop

Bookmarks specialises in non-fictional and fictional books that concern politics, economics, anti-fascism, anarchism, labour history, trade unionism, arts and culture, anti-racism, the environment, biographies, and feminism. It also stocks radical books for children, eBooks, CDs, and DVDs. Their range of merchandise includes posters, mugs, bags, and cards. [1] Novelty items stocked by Bookmarks include anti-Tory mugs and 'sherbet Lenin' soap. [2] Live events are streamed from Bookmarks' YouTube channel. [3]

British politician Tony Benn described Bookmarks as "the university for activists." [4] The bookshop is a member of the Alliance of Radical Booksellers. [5]

Premises

Bookmarks originally began trading in 1971 as I.S. Books and was based at the Cotton Gardens International Socialists office until 1973. Between 1973 and 1974, the name Bookmarks was adopted and new premises were opened at 265 Seven Sisters Road, Finsbury Park, London. [6] [7] In the 1980s, this was also the mailing address for The Radical Bookseller, a magazine for the radical book trade.

In 1998, Bookmarks opened its premises at 1 Bloomsbury Street, London. [8] [7]

Bookmarks Publications

Bookmarks publishes books and pamphlets that address issues concerning activists and trade unionists. [9] A publishing company has existed in some form since 1979. [6]

2002 libel case

In August 2002, Bookmarks Publications and editor of the Socialist Review Lindsey German received a letter from libel lawyers at Carter-Ruck representing editor Quintin Hoare and historian Branka Magaš. The complaint concerned a 1993 essay by the political theorist Alex Callinicos included within The Balkans, Nationalism and Imperialism, a book by German published by Bookmarks in 1999. Hoare and Magaš claimed that one passage suggested they were apologists for Franjo Tuđman's regime in Croatia. Bookmarks Publications and German agreed to issue an apologetic statement in open court and pay each of the plaintiffs £1,500. With legal bills estimated above £10,000 a libel fund was launched in 2003 to support Bookmarks in the proceedings. British journalist Paul Foot penned an appeal for support and claimed that neither Hoare of Magas had approached Bookmarks Publications without their lawyers. [10] In the article Foot wrote that: "It has been a long tradition in the labour movement that arguments between socialists should be conducted openly and should not, except in extreme circumstances, be tested in the courts by the libel laws." [10]

2005: Gilad Atzmon event and anti-Semitism

In June 2005 around 30 people attended a picket of Bookmarks organised by Tony Greenstein through Jews Against Zionism. The picket was initiated after the Socialist Workers Party invited jazz musician Gilad Atzmon to a talk at Bookmarks titled "Deconstructing Zionist Identity" on 17 June of the same year. Atzmon's writings have been described by scholars and anti-racism activists as being anti-Semitic and containing Holocaust denial. This was criticised by left wing groups such as the Alliance for Workers' Liberty. [11] Other attendees of the picket appeared solely for the purpose of denouncing Atzmon and his views. [12]

Jews Against Zionism reported that Atzmon had discussed the theories of Austrian philosopher Otto Weininger at the event and had "not been received well" by attendees. A reporter for Jews Against Zionism wrote that, despite the dismay of some attendees, "we must still marvel at their stupidity in even inviting Atzmon in the first place." [12]

In a statement issued after the event the SWP said, "The SWP does not believe that Gilad Atzmon is a Holocaust denier or racist." An employee of Bookmarks said, "While we do not agree with all of Gilad's ideas and statements… we feel that none justify saying that he should not be allowed to come to the shop to talk about his book." [11]

The Alliance for Workers' Liberty condemned both Bookmarks and the SWP for the incident.

2018: far-right protestors

On 4 August 2018, far-right protestors entered Bookmarks, wrecked displays, and intimidated staff. The campaign group Stand Up to Racism claimed that one individual wore a Donald Trump mask whilst other assailants held placards reading "British Bolshevik Cult." Bookmarks' manager was called "Corbynite scum." [13] The incident took place after a far-right protest connected to the conspiracy theory website InfoWars. Onsite staff called the police and no arrests were made. [14] [15] [13] [16]

The American philosopher and linguist Noam Chomsky called the incident a "shameful attack." Further messages of support came from the Labour Party politician David Lammy, author Michael Rosen, and singer-songwriter Billy Bragg. [17] A solidarity event held on 11 August of the same year was attended by more than 500 supporters. [18] Michael Rosen wrote a special poem for the event that included the line: "Anytime we think they’re just having a laugh, let’s remember the joker with the toothbrush moustache." [19]

Later that month, the right-wing UK Independence Party announced the suspension of three party members pending an investigation into the incident. The suspension applied to Elizabeth Jones, Luke Nash-Jones and Martin Costello. [4] Jones was later cleared of wrongdoing and reinstated to the party. [20] The campaigning publishing organisation Index on Censorship sent six books to the suspended UKIP members to "introduce them to different ideas". The titles issued included Upton Sinclair's The Jungle , Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451 , and Philip Pullman's His Dark Materials Trilogy . [20]

A Bookmarks employee claimed that a previous attack on the shop took place in the 1970s. [4]

Bookmarks' manager, David Gilchrist, wrote in The Guardian that such events sprang from "a fertile ground prepared by Theresa May's “hostile environment” for migrants." Gilchrist's article concluded with: "The most important outcome will be if more people learn the true meaning of solidarity."

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Freedom Socialist Party</span> Trotskyist and socialist feminist American political party

The Freedom Socialist Party (FSP) is a trotskyist and socialist feminist political party in the United States. FSP formed in 1966, when its members split from the Socialist Workers Party.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Alex Callinicos</span> British political theorist (born 1950)

Alexander Theodore Callinicos is a Rhodesian-born British political theorist and activist. An adherent of Trotskyism, he is a member of the Central Committee of the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) and serves as its International Secretary. Between 2009 and 2020 he was the editor of International Socialism, the SWP's theoretical journal, and has published a number of books.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Lindsey German</span> British activist

Lindsey Ann German is a British left-wing political activist. A founding member and convenor of the British anti-war organisation Stop the War Coalition, she was formerly a member of the Socialist Workers Party, sitting on its central committee and being editor of its magazine, Socialist Review.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Gilad Atzmon</span> British jazz saxophonist, political activist, and writer (born 1963)

Gilad Atzmon is an Israeli-born British saxophonist, novelist, political activist, and writer.

The history of the Socialist Workers Party begins with the formation of the Socialist Review Group in 1950, followed by the creation of the International Socialists in 1962 and continues through to the present day with the formation of the Socialist Workers Party in 1977.

Harry's Place is a British conservative Zionist, pro-Israel political blog concerned with monitoring pro-Palestinian activists in England, and what the website writers perceive as extremism of the right and left, as well as anti-Zionism and antisemitism.

Solidarity – Scotland's Socialist Movement was a political party in Scotland. The party launched on 3 September 2006, founded by two former Scottish Socialist Party MSPs, Tommy Sheridan and Rosemary Byrne, in the aftermath of Sheridan's libel action.

Colin Barker was a British sociologist as well as a Marxist historian and writer. A former long-standing member of the Socialist Workers Party in Manchester, he was the author of numerous articles and works on Marxism, including a history of the Polish trade union Solidarity, Festival of the Oppressed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Dave Renton</span> British barrister, historian and author (born 1972)

David Renton is a British barrister, and has represented clients in a number of high-profile cases, especially concerning trade union rights and the protection of free speech. He was for many years a member of the Socialist Workers Party (SWP). He has published over twenty books on fascism, anti-fascism, and the politics of the left.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Ali Abunimah</span> Palestinian-American journalist

Ali Hasan Abunimah is a Palestinian-American journalist who has been described as "the leading American proponent of a one-state solution to the Israeli–Palestinian conflict". A resident of Chicago who contributes regularly to publications such as the Chicago Tribune and the Los Angeles Times, he has served as the vice-president on the board of directors of the Arab American Action Network, is a fellow at the Palestine Center, and is the executive director and a co-founder of The Electronic Intifada website. He has appeared on many television discussion programs on CNN, MSNBC, PBS, and other networks, and in a number of documentaries about the Israeli–Palestinian conflict, including Collecting Stories from Exile: Chicago Palestinians Remember 1948 (1999). In 2014, he published The Battle for Justice in Palestine, which won the Palestine Book Award General Prize.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Chris Harman</span> British journalist and political activist (1942–2009)

Christopher John Harman was a British journalist and political activist, and a member of the Central Committee of the Socialist Workers Party. He was an editor of International Socialism and Socialist Worker.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Socialist Workers Party (UK)</span> Far-left political party in the United Kingdom

The Socialist Workers Party (SWP) is a far-left political party in the United Kingdom. Founded as the Socialist Review Group by supporters of Tony Cliff in 1950, it became the International Socialists in 1962 and the SWP in 1977. The party considers itself to be Trotskyist. Cliff and his followers criticised the Soviet Union and its satellites, calling them state capitalist rather than socialist countries.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michael Lavalette</span> British activist

Michael Lavalette is a British academic specialising in social work. He was a member of the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) from 1981 until 2018, when he left to join Counterfire. He was a local councillor in Preston, Lancashire from 2003 to 2014.

The Anti-Nazi League (ANL) was an organisation set up in 1977 on the initiative of the Socialist Workers Party (SWP) with sponsorship from some trade unions and the endorsement of a list of prominent people to oppose the rise of far-right groups in the United Kingdom. It was wound down in 1981. It was relaunched in 1992, but merged into Unite Against Fascism in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Unite Against Fascism</span> British anti-fascist group

Unite Against Fascism (UAF) is a British anti-fascist group.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Socialist Workers Party (United States)</span> Political party

The Socialist Workers Party (SWP) is a communist party in the United States. The SWP began as a group which, because it supported Leon Trotsky over Soviet leader Joseph Stalin, was expelled from the Communist Party USA. Since the 1930s, it has published The Militant as a weekly newspaper. It also maintains Pathfinder Press.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Campaign Against Antisemitism</span> British non-governmental organisation

Campaign Against Antisemitism (CAA) is a British non-governmental organisation established in August 2014 by members of the Anglo-Jewish community. It conducts litigation, runs awareness-raising campaigns, organises rallies and petitions, provides education on antisemitism and publishes research.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Far-left politics in the United Kingdom</span>

Far-left politics in the United Kingdom have existed since at least the 1840s, with the formation of various organisations following ideologies such as Marxism, revolutionary socialism, communism, anarchism and syndicalism.

Tony Greenstein is a British left-wing activist and writer. An anti-fascist and former squatter, he was a founder member of the Palestine Solidarity Campaign and stood for parliament as a representative of the Alliance for Green Socialism. In 2018, he was expelled from the Labour Party for "harassment" and "abusive language", over allegations of antisemitism. Greenstein is opposed to Zionism which he believes is a racist and supremacist ideology.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Housmans</span> Radical bookstore in London, England

Housmans is a bookshop in London, England, and is one of the longest-running radical bookshops in the United Kingdom. The shop was founded by a collective of pacifists in 1945 and has been based in Kings Cross, since 1959. Various grassroots organisations have operated from its address, including the Gay Liberation Front, the Campaign for Nuclear Disarmament, and London Greenpeace. Housmans shares its building with its sister organisation Peace News.

References

  1. ↑ "Bookmarks Home Page". Bookmarks Bookshop. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  2. ↑ "Books Are My Bag – part 2 | UCL Centre for Publishing". blogs.ucl.ac.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  3. ↑ "Bookmarks Bookshop – YouTube" . Retrieved 9 December 2021– via YouTube.
  4. 1 2 3 "Ukip suspends three members over socialist bookshop attack". The Guardian. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  5. ↑ "» Member Booksellers Alliance of Radical Booksellers" . Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  6. 1 2 "Bookmarks Publications". mrc-catalogue.warwick.ac.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  7. 1 2 "Radical Bookshop History Project" (PDF). Left on the Shelf Books: 46. November 2021.
  8. ↑ "BOOKMARKS PUBLICATIONS LTD overview – Find and update company information – GOV.UK". find-and-update.company-information.service.gov.uk. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  9. ↑ "Bookmarks – About". Bookmarks Bookshop. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  10. 1 2 "Bookmarks libel appeal | Workers' Liberty". workersliberty.org. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  11. 1 2 "Why have the SWP invited an anti-semite? | Workers' Liberty". workersliberty.org. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  12. 1 2 "Gilad Atzmon Bookmarks protest". labournet.net. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  13. 1 2 "MAKE BRITAIN GREAT AGAIN INVADES COMMUNIST BOOKSTORE" , retrieved 9 December 2021
  14. ↑ "Far-right protesters 'ransack socialist bookshop in London'". The Guardian. 5 August 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  15. ↑ "Noam Chomsky backs Bookmarks bookshop after right wing attack". Camden New Journal. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  16. ↑ "Far-right protesters including man in Trump mask attack socialist bookshop while chanting about Muslims and paedophilia". The Independent. 7 August 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  17. ↑ "Masked protesters storm London socialist bookshop". Sky News. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  18. ↑ "Over 500 turn out in solidarity with Bookmarks after attack | The Bookseller". thebookseller.com. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  19. ↑ Tamplin, Harley (11 August 2018). "Hundreds show solidarity with socialist bookshop targeted in right-wing protest". Metro. Retrieved 9 December 2021.
  20. 1 2 "Ukip members sent 'mind-broadening' reading after bookshop attack". The Guardian. 9 August 2018. Retrieved 9 December 2021.

51°30′53″N0°07′48″W / 51.5147°N 0.1301°W / 51.5147; -0.1301

This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.