Bookstores Against Borders Raises Money to Help Refugees

Sat 7/20

Bookstores Against Borders has nothing to do the now-defunct national chain of megastores, which once boasted more than 500 outlets before filing for bankruptcy in 2011.

Rather, it’s an initiative started by Madison, Wisconsin’s legacy independent bookstore A Room of One’s Own (now 44 years old) to raise money for the nonprofit Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services (RAICES), founded in 1986 and based in Texas. RAICES is the largest provider of legal services for immigrants and refugees and an advocate for the humane treatment of those coming into the U.S. from the southern border.

Naturally, it’s been in the news lately as its services have become more urgently needed, given the neglect of and cruelty toward refugees at a time when, incredibly, our own president is saying of native-born American congresswomen who are critical of him, “Why don’t they go back and help fix the broken and crime infested places they came from.” Since he went on to say that they “originally came from countries whose governments are a complete and total catastrophe, the worst, most corrupt and inept anywhere in the world (if they even have a functioning government at all),” it was clear he wasn’t referring to their actual birthplaces: Detroit, New York and Cincinnati.

Trump’s statements impressed Columbus, Ohio’s Andrew Anglin, founder of the neo-Nazi website The Daily Stormer, who said, “This is the kind of WHITE NATIONALISM we elected him for.” In this environment, efforts like Bookstores Against Borders are critical.

Begun just this month, the fundraiser encourages the donation of 5-20% of bookstore sales to RAICES, and it’s already raised $75,000. Bookstores nationwide have enlisted to be part of this effort, and four independent northeast Ohio stores will be part of a day of action Sat 7/20 when they will donate 10% of their sales to RAICES. They include Mac’s Backs in Cleveland Heights, Visible Voice Books in Tremont, Loganberry Books on Larchmere Boulevard and the Learned Owl in Hudson.

Since books open minds and introduce people to new ideas and cultures, this fundraisers in the perfect fit for locally owned bookstores. Last year, the connection between books and immigration was emphasized during the first FRONT International Triennial by an installation (pictured) at the downtown branch of the Cleveland Public Library by British-Nigerian artist Yinka Shonibare. Shelf after shelf of books, bound in fabric suggestive of African textiles, each bore the name of an immigrant, a descendant of immigrants, or a person connected with immigration in some way, including the internal immigration of the Great Migration.

“Part of our mission as booksellers is to raise awareness about national and global issues and injustices,” says Mac’s Backs owner Suzanne DeGaetano. “This campaign with our bookselling colleagues to support separated and detained families at our border is vital and necessary.” Visible Voice owner Dave Ferrante adds “We value diverse voices and perspectives, and the immigration policies initiated by this administration run counter to the ideals of our country.”

If you have a wish list of books, this would be the perfect time to visit a local indie bookstore to pick them up and maybe find some additional intriguing items you’d never have known about if you’d ordered the books on Amazon. All these shops also sell distinctive gift-type items that readers would love and are great places o do special occasion shopping.

learnedowl

loganberrybooks

macsbacks

visiblevoicebooks

Hudson, OH 44236

Shaker Heights, OH 44120

Cleveland Heights, OH 44106

Cleveland, OH 44113

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