Eight Left-Wing Bookstores Urge ABA to Oppose Prosecutions Under Trump's NSPM-7
On Friday, a coalition of eight left-leaning bookstores, spearheaded by Firestorm Books in Asheville, North Carolina, reached out to the American Booksellers Association (ABA) with a letter expressing concern over National Security Presidential Memorandum-7 (NSPM-7). This memorandum, which President Donald Trump signed on September 25, 2025, poses a threat to publishers and booksellers. The group, which includes Autumn Leaves Books, Boneshaker Books, Burning Books, Charis Books & More, Moon Palace Books, Pilsen Community Books, and Word Up Community Bookshop, urges the ABA's advocacy division to oppose any potential prosecutions under NSPM-7. They reference the Trump administration's 2025 prosecution of nine Texans for a protest, leading to harsh penalties, and seek the ABA's assurance to protect its members from NSPM-7-related actions.
Key facts
- Eight left-wing bookstores sent a letter to the American Booksellers Association on Friday.
- The letter warns about threats from National Security Presidential Memorandum-7 (NSPM-7), signed by President Donald Trump on September 25, 2025.
- The signatory bookstores are Firestorm Books, Autumn Leaves Books, Boneshaker Books, Burning Books, Charis Books & More, Moon Palace Books, Pilsen Community Books, and Word Up Community Bookshop / Librería Comunitaria.
- The bookstores ask the ABA's advocacy arm, American Booksellers for Free Expression, to publicly oppose possible prosecution under NSPM-7.
- They cite the prosecution of nine Texans involved in a 2025 protest outside an ICE facility.
- Ines Soto and Elizabeth Soto were convicted of 'material support for terrorism' and sentenced in June to 50 years in prison.
- Daniel Sanchez Estrada was convicted of 'concealing' zines and sentenced to 30 years.
- ABA chief communications officer Ray Daniels confirmed receipt and said ABFE head David Grogan will meet with representatives of the eight bookstores.
Entities
Artists
- Donald Trump
- Ines Soto
- Elizabeth Soto
- Daniel Sanchez Estrada
- Beck Nippes
- Ray Daniels
- David Grogan
Institutions
- Firestorm Books
- American Booksellers Association
- American Booksellers for Free Expression
- Autumn Leaves Books
- Boneshaker Books
- Burning Books
- Charis Books & More
- Moon Palace Books
- Pilsen Community Books
- Word Up Community Bookshop / Librería Comunitaria
- ICE
- Publishers Weekly
Locations
- Asheville
- United States
- North Carolina
- Ithaca
- New York
- Minneapolis
- Minnesota
- Buffalo
- Decatur
- Georgia
- Chicago
- Illinois
- New York City