Advocates for free expression in the United States and worldwide.
Independent, author-owned bookstores have expanded in the U.S., with a surge in ABA membership and ventures from Patchett, Erdrich, Groff and Straub. Stores range from Birchbark in Minneapolis to An Unlikely Story in Plainville, reflecting a broader mission beyond selling books.
A wave of author-owned bookstores across the U.S. is reshaping independent bookselling. Notable spaces founded by Judy Blume, Louise Erdrich, Lauren Groff, Jeff Kinney and George R.R. Martin are expanding in Brooklyn, Minnesota, Florida, Massachusetts and New Mexico, offering community hubs beyond Amazon-dominated retail.
The latest reports show authorities intensifying crackdowns on dissent, with multiple arrests and prosecutions in Egypt and Morocco, while Russia pursues penal actions against critics abroad. Protests and detentions are part of a broader pattern of government hostility toward voices of dissent.