2017 London Anarchist Bookfair



As many people know there was an incident towards the end of the 2017 London Anarchist Bookfair. Many statements have been written both supporting and condemning the organisers of the event. At first, as in previous years, we were inclined to not respond to these statements. However, because of the claims being made, and our views about future bookfairs we feel, unfortunately, that we need to respond. We have produced two statements. The first is a statement about the events on the day. The second is a response to a statement being circulated and signed by a number of groups critical of the Bookfair and its organisers. We are responding because people have made it clear to us that we need to. Others may want to continue the discussion. We won’t be making any further comments. Our statement on the incidents on the day. Our statement in reply to the "Response to the London Anarchist Bookfair 2017". What is anarchism? Like all really good ideas, anarchy is pretty simple when you get down to it. Human beings are at their very best when they are living free of authority, deciding things among themselves, rather than being ordered about. That’s what the word means: without government. Read on… Anarchism and the bookfair Bookfairs provide a space where like-minded people can come together to re-affirm old friendships, make new ones, discuss all things anarchist and anticapitalist and start planning the future revolution. They’re also one of the public faces of anarchism. Anyone unfamiliar with the ideas or wanting to know more about the politics can come along, look through books, sit in or get involved in meetings, workshops and discussions or just chat to the groups and organisations having stalls there. It is also a space where we counter the rubbish talked about anarchism by sections of the media and our opponents. Bookfairs are one small element of making anarchism a threat to the present political system.