Store Posts Apology After LAPD Arrives and Store is Closed After Threats
Diesel: A Bookstore, a store inside of the Brentwood Country Mart, was the site of a protest today after a video of a woman who found a book that offended her in the bookstore went viral. According to independent reporter Sean Beckner-Carmitchel, about twenty protesters came to the store’s entrance on Monday.
The viral video online shows a woman who questions one of the store’s employees who defends the inclusion of the book in the store’s inventory. The woman, whose identity is unknown, was very angry about the book “Understanding Hamas and Why That Matters.” and yelled at the employee, who is seventeen years old.
In the second video, one of the protesters mocks they/them pronouns and shouts, “Queers for Palestine” mockingly.
After the gathering of the protesters, the Los Angeles Police Department arrived and the staff departed with the officers. The store was closed after the store faced online and phoned in threats. The store has since issued an apology that is posted on their Instagram page and it states that the book has been removed.
The apology states,”Dear Diesel Bookstore and Brentwood Country Mart community, We would like to try to reintroduce ourselves. We are longtime Brentwood residents who recently bought this neighborhood gem of a store that has served many of us well for over 16 years at the country mart.
We are passionate readers who believe in the free exchange of ideas and stories. We have no political agenda and have not yet even had a chance to shape much of the content of the store. We came to this business out of a love of books and to keep this store alive for the community.
We want to tell you definitively, the book in question does not represent our values. While we support free speech, we do not support hate speech of any kind against any race or religion. We removed the book today as soon as we understood what it stands for.
Thank you to the many customers, neighbors and friends who have reached out to share their concerns and advice. We are sorry we have not been able to respond to every email or to talk with everyone who came to the store today. We appreciate your rights of free speech but had to close the store for security reasons.
Our goal is to continue to serve the community with the books you’ve come to know and love. If you would like to talk with us about this or any other topics, please visit us in the store.
Thank you,
Diesel Bookstore”
