01/26/2026
Independent bookstores protect so much more than the freedom to read. To our stores, we are incredibly moved and activated by who and how you are in these times. We continue to learn from you and are sharing it widely.
Wow. So much to address.
First things first. F**K ICE. They murdered Alex Pretti on Saturday in cold blood. I won't accept any other explanation. The young man is dead because of Donald Trump, Kristi Noem and the rest of that ghoulish group.
Because of this I was angry enough to go to the site of Alex's murder to pay respects and witness for myself the ICE thugs who support these actions. I got there about an hour after the murder and went right up to the intersection that ICE had taped off and stood guard. There were perhaps 50-100 of them and several hundred observers/protesters milling around. Some were right up front yelling and swearing. I became one of them.
No one made a move toward the agents but suddenly several canisters of tear gas were thrown into the crowd. A number of agents broke the tape and ran after people along a side street to my left for no reason I could see. I stood where I was as more tear gas and flash bombs (they were loud) were thrown at us. There was shooting, probably pepper balls. Most people had backed off but a few had gas masks and stayed near the line. I had no gas mask and I don't know what made me stay but I did. And I was screaming even louder.
I was screaming and sobbing, not from gas, but from Fury and sadness. I don't think the gas had affected me at this point. A gas-masked camera man had been circling around near me asked if I was OK. I was physically fine but I had snapped. I was so angry that people hired by our government could do this to innocent people. Hence the rant which seems to have gone viral.
People have been so kind - from the concerned people there at the scene offering me help to the many, many thousands who have watched the video and offered their support. Those who ordered books from us (it will take a bit to get things sorted out) and eventually crashed our website (working on that too), I thank you. People discovered the old GOFUNDME we had after the riots after George Floyd was murdered and our store was heavily damaged and have been making donations there. I'm greatly touched by that but I would like to offer that money to our local food shelves if donors wouldn't mind. The store is intact and doing well and the money should go to a greater cause.
I'll have more for you later today and in upcoming days. Thank you all and stay strong. I'm still fu***ng angry! Greg
