Advocacy

Mayhem, an advocate for sex workers’ rights and harm reduction, joined ABFE to talk about how well-intentioned laws can impact free speech rights.

Owners Rebecca Fitting and Jessica Stockton Bagnulo asked the City Council to consider taking actions in support of the city’s small businesses as it addresses paid vacation legislation.

ABA’s letter expresses disappointment that the city’s independent retailers have been excluded from an upcoming Finance Committee hearing on New York’s deal with Amazon.

Booksellers may be included in a recent settlement in which the companies have agreed to pay between $5.54 billion and $6.24 billion to a class of more than 12 million retailers.

A new episode of Counterspeak, the monthly podcast of the American Booksellers for Free Expression, will be available for download on BookWeb, Spotify, and iTunes this Thursday, January 3.

The level of public subsidies offered by New York City and New York State to Amazon has raised questions and concerns among some elected officials and city residents.

Discussions centered around online communities, which in some cases bring people together and help forge new connections, while in others drive polarization, spread disinformation, or coordinate harassment.

The first full episode of Counterspeak, a new monthly podcast from the American Booksellers for Free Expression, will be available for download this Thursday, December 6. 

“Free speech is under attack from all sides,” said ABFE’s Dave Grogan. “Our podcast, we hope, will be a welcome space for open dialogue and discussion.”