10 July 2004

Concert of Colors....all but Red?

Contact: Revolution Books Outlet, 406 W. Willis, Detroit MI 48202, 313.833.7310, rbodetroit@yahoo.com

1. Revolution Books Outlet has had a booth at every Concert of Colors since its inception. This year, New Detroit has banned RBO from the event. It appears to be based on a bogus attempt to label RBO’s support for the struggle of the Palestinian people as anti-Jewish. This is at a time of an escalating war on the Palestinians by Israel, and the U.S., as part of their war on the peoples of the Middle East, and a fascist clampdown in the U.S. in which Arab people have been the first targets. RBO has been on point against this war and repression, providing literature which shows that the war on the Middle East is a strategic part of the U.S. empire’s plans for world domination, calls for massive resistance to war and repression, and poses the need for revolution, including in the U.S. Banning RBO from the Concert of Colors is censorship, book-burning, like the attacks on Fahrenheit 911, part of a climate where all support for liberation struggles is labeled as terrorist and debate and protest are labeled as treason.

2. RBO is a revolutionary bookstore which features Marxist-Leninist-Maoist literature, especially that of the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA, and its chairman, Bob Avakian. In 2003 Chairman Bob Avakian delivered an historic talk in the United States, soon available on video and DVD. This talk is a wide-ranging revolutionary journey. It breaks down the very nature of the society we live in and how humanity has come to a time where a radically different society is possible. Full of heart and soul, humor and seriousness, it will challenge you and set your heart and mind to flight. As Wil-Dog, Jiro and Uli from the band Ozomatli said, "Avakian is a revolutionary leader whose voice must be heard far and wide today." At a time when the horrors of this system are driving many to look for answers about how to change the world, forces in New Detroit are trying to keep the truth that Bob Avakian and other MLM literature uncovers from the Concert of Colors audience, especially proletarians of different nationalities and youth. New Detroit arose in 1967, trying to chill out the rebellion and revolutionary aspirations of Black people in this city and it looks like they’ve still got the franchise.

3. This is a serious attack on Revolution Books Outlet, and on the Revolutionary Communist Party, which is looked to for political leadership by the staff of RBO. This may well be an attempt to isolate and set up the RCP, USA, and its chairman, Bob Avakian, in the context of the Patriot Act and the fascist clampdown that is part of Bush & the Imperialists’ agenda, and in the context of revolutionary possibilities where communist leadership will make the difference between seizing such openings or throwing them away.

4. This is also an attack on the Concert of Colors, where RBO has been one of the most popular vendors and has drawn large crowds from a broad spectrum of the festival audience, who might not get to visit RBO otherwise. This is an attempt to mainstream the event, to restrict its diversity, keep out controversial and thought-provoking ideas. What’s a Concert of Colors if "red" is going to be banned? What or who will New Detroit ban next year if they are allowed to get away with this?

New Detroit is saying that it’s a "done deal" that RBO won’t have a booth at this year’s festival. We don’t accept that and we don’t think anyone who has any thoughts or dreams about changing the world should tolerate it. We urge people to call and e-mail New Detroit and let them know you expect to see Revolution Books Outlet at this year’s festival, July 16th to 18th, new revolutionary video/DVD and all!

Make a call right away to John Rakolta, Chairman, and Shirley Stancato, President and CEO, of New Detroit! Phone:(313) 664-2000; Fax (313) 664-2071; sstancato@newdetroit.org.





Revolution Books Outlet

406 W. Willis, Detroit MI 48201

between Cass & 2nd, S. of Forest

PO Box 0083, Detroit MI 48231

313-833-7310

rbodetroit@yahoo.com

check out rwor.org