Six independent bookstores are teaming up to host a series of virtual events tackling the ever-present issue of gun violence. On November 3, IndiesUNITE!, a collaborative project focused on events that use literature and conversations to confront societal issues, will bring together authors and activists for two virtual panels on gun violence. The participating independent bookstores are Boogie Down Books, Little Shop of Stories, Monkey See, Monkey Do…Children’s Bookstore, Politics and Prose Bookstore, River Dog Book Co., and Second Star to the Right, in partnership with Bookshop.org. Both panels are virtual and free to the public.

Starting at 1 p.m. ET, authors Kimberly Jones and Gilly Segal, co-authors of I’m Not Dying with You Tonight; Marieke Nijkamp, author of This Is Where It Ends; Kindra Neely, author of Numb to This; and moderator Kim Johnson, author of This Is My America, will discuss how gun violence affects school communities, and will offer resources for students and educators in need of support.

The evening event will begin at 8 p.m. and will feature Barbara DiLorenzo, author of One Thursday Afternoon; De Nichols, author of Art of Protest; and John Della Volpe, author of Fight: How Gen Z Is Channeling Their Fear and Passion to Save America, in conversation with activists from nonprofit organization Teachers Unify to End Gun Violence.

For more information and to register for the event, click here.