Skylight Books in Los Angeles will close its storefront from 2 to 5 p.m. on May 1 so that its staff may travel to the planned Occupy activities and attend demonstrations downtown. The store’s arts annex will be closed for the entire day in support of the call for a general boycott in the city.
Those who are interested in participating in the Occupy movement will gather at Skylight at noon to meet members of the bookstore staff as well as artists affiliated with the Occupy movement. The staff will then lead them via public transit to converge with other groups who will all march downtown for two Occupy L.A. rallies. Skylight will also serve as a community gathering point of information throughout the day. Books that highlight the history of May Day and the labor movement will be displayed throughout the store, and when it reopens at 5:00 p.m. light refreshments will be available.
When asked if it was financially feasible for the store to close for the strike, general manager Kerry Slattery said, “Yes – especially on the heels of a very successful Festival of Books. It’s important to let the staff participate in the May Day marches if they want to because of the historical significance behind these actions. The 99% become more visible when they’re not there.”
