Q2 updates are now available! The American Booksellers for Free Expression (ABFE) updates detail our free expression advocacy, while the Advocacy update covers small business, antitrust, and all other issues. Now is the time to call your lawmakers in support of the Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA). There is an opportunity for it to be considered this week if it is not blocked by special interests and political maneuvering. This is an essential piece of legislation that will give small businesses actual relief from ever-increasing credit card processing fees. Besides CCCA, we have continued to follow up on ABA’s motion to intervene in the FTC’s case against Amazon. The motion to intervene is meant to share our insight as booksellers into the intricacies of Amazon’s anti-competitive behavior in the book industry, including not only monopoly (sole seller) power but monopsony (sole buyer) power as well. ABFE has maintained focus on the ongoing threats to booksellers who host drag story time events, which in recent months have shut down stores and stifled free expression. We interviewed Tara Lipsyncki (for print and podcast), a drag performer and owner of Mosaics Community Bookstore and Venue in Provo, UT. Lipsyncki has been threatened many times because of their drag story time events and speaks to their experience, what they’ve learned, and how to take care of yourself in the event of threats. We will also be holding two emergency events this Thursday (May 9, at 4:00 pm ET) and Friday (May 10, at 3:00 pm ET). ABA members can register for these events on BookWeb. You can also visit BookWeb to check out this week’s roundup of book challenges around the country. |
