As a lifelong book enthusiast and someone who has spent countless hours immersed in the pages of various titles, I find myself deeply troubled by the recent incidents at bookstores like Diesel and Skylight Books. Having grown up in a Jewish family with roots deeply entrenched in the rich tapestry of Israeli history, these instances hit particularly close to home for me.
It looks like business as usual at Brentwood’s Country Mart.
At Caffe Luxxe’s patio, you’ll find laptops and cups of coffee on every table. Just around the corner, a woman is gathering two youngsters near the upscale store Hudson Grace. “Let’s pop into Goop for a moment,” she calls out, leading them to a quick stop at Gwyneth Paltrow’s shop. The pastry counter at Farmshop still has a line of four people, even though the lunch hour is ending. On a peaceful, sunny Wednesday like this, it wouldn’t be unusual to spot regulars from Country Mart, such as Larry David or Jennifer Garner.
The tranquility of the setting conceals the chaos that transpired here mere days ago. Standing just a few steps from Diesel Bookstore’s entrance, I find myself examining the window display as a staff member emerges from a courtyard nearby. “May I assist you?” he queries. He apologizes for his bluntness, but his colleagues are on edge and wary of anyone loitering or snapping pictures. The past few days have been challenging, and apprehension lingers in the atmosphere. Menacing messages were still pouring in via phone calls and emails.
Without hesitation, a lively frequent visitor saunters into the bookstore to gauge the atmosphere. With a broad grin, she voices, “I’m not here to complain.” She expresses her fondness for Diesel and humorously mentions that she spends so much time at the Country Mart that when her husband can’t find her, he calls the Reddi Chick counter. Given this history, it’s no surprise she was well-informed about the recent events at Diesel. She enters with a peaceful intent: “The world can be harsh.
Employees at Diesel were rarely prompted for reminders. However, a crisis arose on September 22 when a Jewish woman noticed a book titled “Understanding Hamas: And Why That Matters” placed on a table. She found the book’s presence offensive and reportedly informed another Jewish woman, who subsequently approached Diesel’s staff to express her disapproval in an emotional outburst. This incident was recorded on video.
The woman passionately exclaims, “This is disgraceful! In a Jewish community! Yet, one might question the relevance of Hamas? Hamas is recognized as a terrorist group,” her voice escalating. “I resided in Israel, have relatives there. A tragic event occurred on October 7th.” A sudden Hamas attack took over 1,200 lives in Israel that day, marking the deadliest incident in the nation’s history, which ignited a fierce and persistent Israeli military operation aimed at eliminating Hamas in Gaza, reportedly resulting in the deaths of more than 40,000 Palestinians.
In the video, a 17-year-old employee who identifies as Jewish, when confronted, replies, “I know many Palestinians who have been killed over the past year.” The woman, unfazed, responds, “That’s very unfortunate. We didn’t start this conflict. Remove this book from your store! Incredible!” As the recording ends, you can hear her slamming the book onto the table.
The video was disseminated across various social media outlets, triggering a coordinated demonstration the next Monday afternoon. A group of around forty protesters gathered at Country Mart, obstructing the entrances of Diesel Bookstore at approximately 1:30 p.m., as depicted in videos circulating on X (previously known as Twitter). The protesters shouted and hung an Israeli flag over Diesel’s storefront window, beneath several signs, one of which read, “Do you also sell Mein Kampf?”, referring to Adolf Hitler’s 1925 autobiographical treatise. As tensions rose, the staff at Diesel opted to lock the bookstore and turn off the lights. A protester repeatedly used the term “they/them” as a slur against a nonbinary teenage employee working there. Security personnel requested assistance from the Los Angeles Police Department after 2 p.m., leading to a standoff that lasted approximately 90 minutes, according to local news broadcasts. LAPD officers eventually escorted the frightened staff members to their vehicles. No one was taken into custody, but property was vandalized.
Nestled within the upscale neighborhood of Los Angeles’ Westside known as Brentwood, you’ll find a myriad of well-known figures such as Garner, Paltrow, Reese Witherspoon, Ben Affleck, Disney’s Bob Iger and Dana Walden, NBA star LeBron James, and Arnold Schwarzenegger, to name just a few. Country Mart, established in 1948, serves not only as a casual outdoor mall for locals to grab lunch or shop for luxury goods but also functions as the heart of Brentwood – its cherished social hub. The Country Mart is often referred to on its website as a “community center” and has served as a gathering place for Hollywood legends like Joan Crawford, Elizabeth Taylor, Burt Lancaster, Shirley Temple, Olivia de Havilland and others for many decades. For the past 16 years, Diesel Bookstore, one of its franchises, has been a fixture at Country Mart, hosting authors, families, and book enthusiasts for both formal and informal events.
Nestled snugly between two charming courtyards, I find myself in the company of some amazing local businesses that cater to every whim. Farmshop, Lloyd’s Barbershop, Christian Louboutin’s boutique, Broken English jewelry store, beauty retailer Cos Bar, and men’s fashion brand Sid Mashburn are my neighbors, each offering a unique experience for the discerning shopper. Just a stone’s throw away, there’s James Perse, one of many other stores that make this place a retail paradise. To add to the star-studded lineup, celebrity jewelry designer Irene Neuwirth, who openly supports Israel and is Jewish, also has her store here.
After the recent event, I found myself taking a firm stance alongside my fellow employees and local business owners across the country, as we all made it clear where we stand on the contentious matters that ignited such intense debate.
A staff member at a local store, preferring to stay unnamed, commented on the decision to sell a controversial book given the setting. They stated that such actions require knowledge of your clientele and location awareness. Brentwood and Country Mart are predominantly inhabited by Jewish people, and displaying such content can be seen as offensive to many in this community. Notably, Vice President Kamala Harris, who is Jewish, along with her husband Doug Emhoff, also frequent the area. As reported by The Wall Street Journal, Emhoff is affectionately known as “Dougie” among Country Mart employees and often visits Farmshop for coffee and a bagel or Lloyd’s Barbershop for a haircut. In the widely shared video of the bookstore altercation, the book titled “Understanding Hamas” was found placed next to Harris’s memoir, “The Truths We Hold: An American Journey“.
“There is sadness on both sides,” interjected another staffer at the same boutique. “I’m not surprised that a protest happened, but there is no wrong answer in this.” The statement was immediately met with tension by her peer, who fired back: “That’s not true. There’s only one right answer — end of discussion. Look at what happened on Oct. 7. People were killed and have since been raped and tortured by Hamas. It’s horrible and offensive to sell a book like that. I won’t ever buy anything there again.” She continued by saying that while the book has been removed from store shelves, it was still being sold on Diesel’s website. She finds that offensive and predicts more fallout. “I have a client who asked me to ship her items because she’s scared to come here,” she added.
In another shop, an employee expressed empathy after a book sparked controversy. “It’s not acceptable to bully someone just because a book upset some people. They targeted and intimidated a Diesel staffer who is only 17 years old. They even shared their face online and made threats. It’s truly unfortunate this happened.” The individual considered it a misstep to highlight the book so prominently and proposed it should have been shelved in a section dedicated to Middle Eastern literature, alongside other books exploring the long-standing conflict. “They are a store that can stock books with various viewpoints. It’s about freedom of speech, and I strongly oppose censoring books. However, I do understand the outrage.
An associate from a luxury clothing retailer located at Country Mart expressed disappointment over the recent controversy. “In this day and age, people seem to only focus on headlines without bothering to delve deeper,” the employee mused. “Have they truly read it? Or are they simply reacting based on what’s written on the cover? Why can’t they just choose to look away instead?” questioned the store worker. “In my opinion, the owner sincerely apologized, and I believe we should now put this matter behind us,” the employee added. “What truly matters to me is compassion, understanding, and respect.
Following a series of events, Diesel Bookstore’s Instagram apology has been removed again, leaving only their welcome message visible. The Turners, new owners since August 1st, have expressed their love for reading and advocacy for free thought. They clarified that they hold no political agenda and the controversial book in question does not reflect their values.
As a new gamer stepping into this gaming community, I’ve heard that the previous players agreed to stick around for some time during the transition. However, it seems ambiguous as to who has the authority to order and display the game manuals. In response to the uproar, the new team swiftly acted, joining forces with Scooter Braun, now CEO of HYBE America, on the very same Wednesday that The Hollywood Reporter dropped by Country Mart. Together, they made an exclusive visit to L.A.’s Nova Exhibition, a tribute to the 364 souls lost at the Nova Music Festival, tragically taken by Hamas terrorists.
I adore this bookstore because it’s always brimming with books that I can pass down to my kids about our Jewish heritage – whether it’s Passover, Hanukkah, or Rosh Hashanah. The store carries books from various people and cultures, but unfortunately, one title contained misinformation and hate. A young book clerk made a mistake due to lack of education and understanding, which led some to unfairly label this bookstore as anti-Semitic. I’m sharing this photo of me with the Turners and two Nova survivors because not only is that false, but the bookstore swiftly issued a statement that reflects our community’s values.
Braun pointed out that the pair had spent three hours exploring the Nova exhibit. He expressed, in his writing, that such dedication symbolizes the kind of leadership the world requires. He urged his audience to back their endeavors and to ensure bookstores continue thriving. However, the owners chose not to comment for this article.
A bookstore owner based on the Westside had different ideas. Zibby Owens serves as CEO and founder of Zibby Media, a company that includes an acclaimed podcast, a publishing division, a book club, live events, and the independent bookstore Zibby’s Books located on Montana Avenue in Santa Monica. A graduate from Yale University, Zibby is also an author and editor of several books, with her latest work, On Being Jewish Now, set for release this week. This book was inspired by the changes in life following the tragic Oct. 7 attacks, and it features notable contributors such as Mark Feuerstein, Jill Zarin, Bess Kalb, Rebecca Minkoff, Amy Ephron, and rabbi Steve Leder.
As a Jewish reader, book enthusiast, and proprietor of a bookstore, it was deeply saddening for me to witness a book like ‘[Understanding Hamas]’ being prominently showcased and defended by an employee at Diesel. I’ve always admired Diesel and have been a loyal patron for years,” shared Owens, currently residing in New York but originally from L.A., where I was a frequent visitor to Brentwood and Country Mart. “I believe bookstores should not be spreading hate or supporting terrorism in any form. A bookstore’s role is not to do so… Experiencing conflict within the sanctuary of a bookstore felt incredibly personal.
Last spring, screenwriter Jonathan Herman, nominated for an Oscar and known for his work on “Straight Outta Compton”, felt similar emotions after discovering an incident at Skylight Books in L.A.’s Los Feliz neighborhood. When he found out through a WhatsApp group focused on entertainment industry activism that Skylight was selling the book “Hamas: From Resistance to Regime” by Paola Caridi, who is linked to the controversial Diesel scandal, Herman, a long-time patron of the store for almost 20 years, immediately went there.
During my journey, I made up my mind to purchase any available copies, pay for them, and express my disapproval in some way. Upon arrival, I grew increasingly frustrated because the book was a positive portrayal of Hamas, presenting it as a respectable revolutionary group. I then set up my phone to record my encounters with the employees who were all courteous but seemed clueless about the situation and unable to help. I paid for the books and proceeded to tear them into pieces. Due to the book’s thickness, this process took around five minutes, during which everyone else seemed to ignore me and act as if I wasn’t there.
Herman hasn’t returned to Skylight, his cherished bookstore from before. He expressed his dismay over their decision to stock a questionable book, not just in Los Angeles but specifically in Brentwood, an area with a large Jewish population. “It’s unacceptable for them to sell books that could potentially harm the community,” Herman stated. “There’s nothing authentic or impartial about these books. They are false glorifications of Hamas and contain dangerous content. It’s all misleading and offensive.
He said he’s disappointed about the amount of misinformation in the air regarding the Israel-Hamas war and the deeper conflicts between Israel and Palestine. He added that he knows how complex and nuanced the history can be, and books like these only reinforce troubling narratives about Israel and Jewish people. “We prefer to have peace.”
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2024-10-03 00:26