Black Lives Matter. 

In the summer of 2020, after the murder of George Floyd, Unabridged Bookstore made a commitment to each month support and contribute to organizations that work towards achieving racial justice in America, as well as promoting social, environmental and economic justice. Since June 2020, Unabridged has contributed over $29,000 to 30 difference organizations and we are now re-dedicating our ongoing commitment to support these kinds of organizations each month. Thank you for joining us in this commitment.

To honor the Black Lives Matter movement, and as part of our commitment to promoting the work of activists and organizations engaged in the fight for environmental justice and against systemic racism, social injustice, hunger, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia, we choose to support the Poor People's Campaign and Broadway Youth Center this month:

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In light of the Supreme Court’s ruling to overturn Roe v. Wade, we at Unabridged are renewing our support for the work of activists and organizations engaged in progressive causes.

We will continue to honor the Black Lives Matter movement with our monthly effort to highlight and donate to those engaged in the fight for social, environmental, and economic justice, and with reproductive rights at risk across the US, we will make an additional, monthly contribution to Chicago Abortion Fund and Midwest Access Coalition. We ask you to join us in supporting these organizations, and to continue to read and resist!

We at Unabridged have been shown an incredible amount of love and support over the last two years. Even as the outbreak of the Covid-19 virus has put many in a position of hardship, our neighbors have continued to shop with us. Our livelihoods depend on the success of Unabridged Bookstore, so we say thank you! We know these words are not enough.

We recognize that our gratitude for this support must be accompanied by a statement of responsibility to our community as well as direct action. The coronavirus is not the only virus at work today. The pandemic of racism, police brutality, and corruption of our justice system currently ravaging our nation must also be addressed. At Unabridged Bookstore we believe that Reading is Resistance, and that our effort of sharing literature is a necessary work. We have seen this in recent months as our neighbors clamor for books about antiracism and policing. As part of the literary community we have a deep respect for the importance of words, and an understanding of their power. So we say: Black Lives Matter. They have always mattered, but in the wake of the murders of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, George Floyd, and far too many others, we know these words are not enough. They must be followed by meaningful action.

And because a single action is not enough, Unabridged Bookstore commits to promoting and supporting each month the work of activists and organizations engaged in the fight against systemic racism, social injustice, sexism, homophobia, and transphobia. Every month we will highlight and donate to organizations working to achieve meaningful and lasting change in our community. As we make this effort, we join our community of customers and neighbors in Chicago, and the greater bookselling/publishing community, to take a strong stance against bigotry and for active antiracism, to rally together and demand police accountability. We will continue to listen to one another, to share ideas, to speak out, and to read and resist.

For more information about the organizations we have contributed to in recent months, click below.