Firestorm Books

@firestorm.coop

13699 Followers 395 Following

Queer feminist collective in Asheville, NC, operating a bookstore co-op & social movement space since 2008 on Tsalagi land. Ⓐ Ⓔ Ⓥ

A black and white design featuring the text "this machine kills fascists" in bold lettering alongside an image of a photocopy machine. The copier has a circle-a for anarchism drawn on it and stickers that read "Free Des" and "Zines are not a crime."
A map of Asheville which shows the massive scale of the Biltmore Estate south of Interstate 40.
A flat lay photo of Gautham's book "White Power: Policing American Slavery" on a wooden deck. The book and deck are in dappled sunlight.
A photo of packets being assembled shows various materials including a stamped envelope, a handout titled "How to write to people in prisons!", and a booklet about the defendants. In the upper right, a fully assembled packet with 15 zines is visible.
A triptych of photos each showing a member of Patriot Front walking on Haywood Road.
A photo of the book held over a bed of poison ivy. The book cover is a light shade of green with illustrations of plants and animals, some of which have been crossed out.
A screenshot from firestorm.coop showing the product page for "The Government Doesn't Want You To Read These Zines". The product image is styled like a redacted document and the page shows that 18 packets are available.
A slide showing books recommended by author and former political prisoner Eric King, including "Look for Me in the Whirlwind: From the Panther 21 to 21st-Century Revolutions" and "I Cannot Submit to Injustices: Collected Works of Martin Sostre."
A promotional graphic for International Day of Solidarity with Long-Term Anarchist Prisoners, which features text in black and red shapes over a photo of bookcases at Firestorm. A breaking chain is depicted in silhouette.
A gif of Buffy twirling a wooden stake.
A promotional graphic for The Networked Colonization of Everyday Life, an online event taking place June 13th at 3pm ET. The image features the cover of Ian's book, featuring an illustration of centralized, decentralized and distributed models over a black and white photo of a militarized police force in the street of an anonymous city. Ian and Andrew's headshots are displayed over a photo of a red circuit board.
A photo of Julius Caesar Salad, an aged dachshund wearing a voluminous orange boa. Julius is sitting in the sun among flowers outside of Firestorm Books.
Hi my name is Libertie and I’m a co-owner of Firestorm Books, an 18 year old co-operative bookstore in West Asheville. Now I realize you may be thinking “of course the anarchist bookstore is against giving money to the police, they want to abolish the police, turn all the hotels into free housing, and replace this city council with a network of directly democratic neighborhood assemblies.” And you’re right, we do. But I think as a group with direct experience being a target of APD surveillance, we also have a perspective valuable to the conversation. A real time intelligence center is a trojan horse designed to entangle Asheville in surveillance-driven attacks on vulnerable communities. This administration and aligned state governments rely heavily on surveillance infrastructure to carry out the ethnic cleansing of immigrants, the genocidal erasure of queer and trans people, and the criminalization of reproductive care. The city may have asked for these funds, but Chuck Edwards isn't offering them out of the goodness of his heart.
A screenshot from the May 12 city council agenda. It reads: "B. Declaration of Policy for Public Safety Tools, Asheville Police Department Grant Award, Budget Amendment, and Axon Contract - ITEM B AND ITS SUBPARTS WILL HAVE ONE PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD. B.1 (i) Resolution of the Asheville City Council to declare and reaffirm the protection of civil liberties of all residents and visitors in the collection and use of data obtained through the utilization of public facing cameras, license plate readers, and the operation of a real-time intelligence center. B.1 (ii) Resolution authorizing the City Manager to apply for, accept, and sign all of the appropriate application and acceptance documents for the Community Project Funding Award allocated to the City of Asheville as secured through Congressman Chuck Edward's Office and managed through the Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs, Byrne Justice Grants. B.1 (iii) Budget amendment in the City's Special Revenue Fund in the amount of $1,141,255.56. B.2 Resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute on behalf of the City of Asheville a contract with Axon Enterprises, Inc to bundle all existing agreements for Asheville Police Department's current inventory of Body-Worn Cameras, Tasers, Drones, Lightpost and Interview Room equipment, warranties, licensing, and cloud storage for all, and add FUSUS software, utilizing the pricing offered through Sourcewell cooperative contract."
The "We're all trying to find the guy who did this" meme from the Netflix sketch comedy series "I Think You Should Leave" with Tim Robinson.
A messy pile of zines photographed from above. While many of the pamphlets are black and white, some are printed in color or printed on colored paper. Visible titles include "What Should We Do if Signal Messenger Gets Blocked," "Hookers in Healthcare," and "May Day: A Graphic History of Protest."
A messy pile of zines photographed from above. While many of the pamphlets are black and white, some are printed in color or printed on colored paper. Visible titles include "Black Anarchist Legacies," "Everyday Antifascism," and "Intro to Radio Communication."
A screenshot of our YouTube channel showing red Xs over the videos that have been restricted. Eight out of twelve videos are marked.
A photo of a strawberry from our container garden, held between two fingers. The sun is shining on the strawberry foliage and marigolds in the background. Further back, the front of our bookstore is visible, with a rainbow flag flapping in the wind. Not pictured: us eating the strawberry, which tasted incredible.
A photo of the book held by a nonbinary hand in front of bookshelves at Firestorm. The cover is blue with a grid of illustrated images depicting pink body parts, some of which belong to adults and others to children. Many are engaged in playful activities such as drawing with a crayon, playing in the water, or painting a toenail.
A screenshot from Fox News of an article titled "Charming mountain city becomes 'nasty, crazy, and scary' as locals stay away". The accompanying photo depicts traveling kids with instruments and a puppy.
A promotional graphic for a May Day film screening and community potluck, which features text over a photo of wildflowers. Logos for Pansy and Firestorm appear in the upper corners of the image and text reads: "6pm - Elements of Mutual Aid (Episode 1), 7pm - Food and gathering. @ 1022 Haywood Road, West Avl."
A promotional graphic for a virtual event at Firestorm Books on April 26th at 2pm ET. The image features the cover of Jarrod's book over a photo of sparks flying. The book has an orange cover with an apocalyptic illustration of Minneapolis' 4th precinct in flames, riot cops, Trump standing Christ-like in front of a cross, a tiki torch bearing fascist, Pinhead from the Hellraiser franchise, and a handcuffed arm reaching to escape the chaos.
A screenshot from our event registration page that includes listings for the two named events. Event descriptions read "Five incredible authors discuss writing disability representation in books for young adults." and "Tomas Rothaus, author of the recently publish memoir Another War Is Possible, takes us on a wild, bumpy, and beautiful ride through a lifetime of resistance."
A screenshot from our website showing a product grid with discounted inventory. The first title is " Driven by the Movement: Reports from the Black Power Era" by JoNina Abron-Ervin. Each book includes the cover, title, and price from the catalog.
A screenshot of the employee controlled Instagram account shows a post from staff with over 6,300 likes and hundred of reshares. The post reads "Hey Y'all, long time (10 years 💔) employee of Vortex Doughnuts here."
A grid of products on our website, showing various pride flag stickers and enamel pins that have been marked down to $1.
A photo inside Firestorm Books showing pages loaded with books marked down to $10. Visible titles include "When Freedom Is the Question, Abolition Is the Answer" by Bill Ayers, "Discovering the Spiritual Wisdom of Trees" by Beth Norcross and Leah Rampy, "White Property, Black Trespass" by Andrew Krinks, and more.
A promotional graphic for Militant Anarchist Experiences in the Antiglobalization Era, a virtual event hosted by Firestorm in collaboration with PM Press on April 19th at 3pm ET. The image features the covers of Tomas Rothaus' three books over a smoky blue background.
A grid of upcoming virtual events hosted by Firestorm Books. Events include Disability in YA Fundraiser Panel (4/18), Militant Anarchist Experiences in the Antiglobalization Era (4/19), Every Fire Needs a Little Bit of Help (4/26), Gender-Expansive Pregnancy (5/2), and Invasive Species and Capitalism (6/21).
A promotional graphic for Firestorm's Spring Blowout Book Sale taking place April 15th to 18th. The image features text over a bright photo of pink tulips. The second "o" in Books is replaced with a cartoon bomb.
A photo of a greeting card illustrated by Katie Blanchard, which reads "So very grateful" over a richly-pigmented watercolor painting of a rainbow. The card is being held up in front of Firestorm Books and the store sign is visible in soft focus.
A spreadsheet showing the agencies with which Asheville police share Flock data. The record for "Fish and Wildlife Commission FL PD" is highlighted.
A collective photo taken at Firestorm Books. Our team, including five humans and two dogs, is sitting on the sidewalk in front of the building looking relaxed. The sky is bright but cloudy and flags on the building hang without any indication of wind. The building is painted forest green and various posters and signs are visible in the windows, which reflect the sky. The largest reads "Immigrants Welcome."
The goose chase meme. In the first panel text reads "Our immigrant neighbors are being taken from the Buncombe County Detention Center by ICE". The second frame shows a person fleeing from the goose with the text "we don't cooperate with ICE" and the goose is yelling "Who put them in the Detention Center motherfucker?"
A flyer graphic for an April 4th Moise Demo. Text reads "Meet in Pritchard Park at 7pm: leave your phone st home, bring noisemakers, wear black" and appears over a photo of fireworks. Smaller text reads "In support of Texas anti-ICE protestors charged with terrorism, and our immigrant neighbors currently being held at the Buncombe County Detention Center."
A promotional graphic featuring very large text that reads "Your book club has been designated a terrorist threat" over an image of paperwork. Smaller text reads "A Prairieland teach-in" and "6pm Friday, April 3rd at Firestorm Books".
My hope is that ‘Mutual Aid’ helps more people join with others in taking risks to care for people in crisis and dismantle the violent systems that are endangering all life and have already prematurely ended the lives of so many. What we need is not just individual or small-group acts of redistribution and care-which are no doubt meaningful-but to create entire voluntary, horizontal, decentralized systems of living together that do not operate through profit, scarcity, and extraction…
Manifesto, a very good dog, looks up at the bookcases in our shop. Alongside "Mutual Aid" by Dean spade, other titles are visible, including "Read This When Things Fall Apart" by Kelly Hayes, "The Revolution Will Not be Funded" by INCITE!, and "From the Ashes" by Sarah Jaffe.
A photo of 404 Media's ICE zine, printed in black and white. The pamphlet is open to show sections titled "Data Dangers" and "Meta Debate". Behind the zine are unfolded copies printed on bright green and pink paper stock alongside a sticker of the antifascist three arrows.
A poster titled "Zines Are Still Not a Crime" featuring a photo of immigrant artist Des Revol. Text reads: "Des Has Been Found Guilty Of Corruptly Concealing, And Conspiracy To Conceal Documents. This Says Nothing About Des. Only The States Desire To Criminalize Dissent. Make Some Noise For Des And The Prairieland Defendants This Fight Is Far From Over"
An illustration by John Tenniel depicting an assassination attempt on Tsar Alexander II, who was killed on March 13th of 1881 in Saint Petersburg, Russia. The ink drawing depicts a masked figure lighting a fuse below the throne of Alexander, who is surrounded by phantoms clutching knives.
A screenshot of an article titled "Asheville employs more municipal workers than similar-sized cities. Is it necessary for a busy tourist town or a sign of bloat?" with a photo of Asheville city hall. The first paragraph of the story reads "David Moritz’s campaign for Asheville City Council ended with a loss in Tuesday’s primary, but he hopes his message about the root cause of the city’s yawning budget gap – bloated staffing – will linger."
A mini zine titled "F*ck ICE: All My Homies Hate ICE" with a drawing of Sailor Moon giving the middle finger.
Video of a press conference for the Prairieland Defendants on the first day of their trial.
The second part of a video outside the court on the first day of the Prairieland trial in Texas.
A video of a press conference outside the courthouse on the first day of the Prairieland trial in Texas.
A poster believed to be the work of @erikruin.bsky.social. It consists of a painting of a blue and pink sky over the chain link fence of a prison yard with the text "Fck ICE, Free Des" in huge letters.
A promotional graphic for "T4T Poetry Reading," an in-person event hosted by Firestorm Books on February 13th at 6pm ET. The image features the cover of "T4T" by Evelyn Berry, which depicts two interlocking carabiners, against a pink background, alongside a headshot of Evelyn.
A photo of our storefront in the snow. Paths have been shoveled and the sun is shining brightly through the fluttering Pride flag mounted to the face of the bookstore.
A photo of our storefront in the snow. Several inches of light, powdery snow has accumulated on the freestanding metal sign in front of the building and more is falling. The white ground and sky frame the building's two story mural of woodland creatures painted by Erre.
Candlelight Vigil for Victims of ICE 5pm Wednesday (1/28) - Pritchard Park Remember Alex Pretti, RN, and all who have died and been disappeared at the hands of ICE. This event is organized in partnership with WNC Central Labor Council, the American Federation of Government Workers, and National Nurses United. Signs, candles, and hand warmers will be provided.
A screenshot from the Asheville sub Reddit showing a post titled "oh no the storm must have got it". A photo shows a Flock surveillance camera that has been cut down at the intersection of Haywood Rd and Louisiana Ave. The post has 328 upvotes.
A photo of two dogs on the floor of Firestorm Books. They are both wearing red outfits. Manny is a medium sized cattle dog mix in a quilted red jacket. Julius is an elderly dachshund in a pink and red sweater.
The Simpsons "don't make me tap the sign" meme but the sign says "Police don't exist to protect you, they exist to protect the rich from you" and the driver is labeled "anarchists".
A promotional graphic for "From Minneapolis to Asheville: Community Action Against Fascism" an in-person event taking place at Firestorm Books on January 20th at 5:30pm. The image features text over a photo of a makeshift barracade in the snowy streets of Minneapolis. A white and red sign on the blockage reads "Neighbors Say ICE OUT!"
A promotional graphic for Anarchy and Abolition, a virtual conversation with Eric King hosted by Firestorm Books on January 18th at 7pm ET. The image features the cover of Eric's book, on which the author is seen restrained to a cart while in federal custody, alongside headshots for Eric and conversation partner Josh Fernandez.
An illustration from the book of a futuristic city. Buildings feature fascist propaganda as well as resistance graffiti.
A photo of the "Why We Fight" core game book displayed at Firestorm Books. The orange cover features an illustration of a member of the Community Alliance handing a small child an apple. The character carries a bow and wears a backpack decorated with activist buttons.
A photo of a hand holding a flyer inside Firestorm Books. The flyer reads: "Stay in the loop without doomscrolling! Get Firestorm event info sent to your phone... Scan the QR code below to join an announcements thread on the encrypted Signal app. If you don't already have Signal, you'll be prompted to install it, which only takes a few minutes. We recommend setting a username that is not easily identifiable. Learn more at https://signal.org" Bookshelves are visible in soft focus in the background.