The opening coincides with the annual Anarchist Bookfair, which will take place at La Plaza Cultural on Ninth Street and Avenue C from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
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The Anarchist Switchboard was a political organizing space on the Lower East Side from late 1983 to 1989. It was located at 324 E. Ninth St. and was started by activists associated with The Libertarian Book Club, Alchemical Theatre, Freespace and The Living Theatre.After the 1988 Tompkins Square Park Police Riots, it was taken over by a new generation of activists. Due to several incendiary factors, the Switchboard was contentiously shut down in the summer of 1989. Some regulars decided to immediately open a new space, which they turned into an Anarchist Bookstore.The exhibition of Switchboard-related flyers and documents specifically chronicles the years 1983 to 1987. It opens during the Anarchist Bookfair today (Sept. 21). There will be a presentation/talk/moderated group discussion featuring several people who organized at the Switchboard throughout the years. Event seats at 5 p.m.; discussion at 5:30 p.m.The exhibit stays up through Oct. 5.Additional exhibit hours:• Sept. 21: noon – 7 p.m.• Sept. 22: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.• Sept. 28: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.• Sept. 29: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.• Oct. 5: 1 p.m. – 5 p.m.Sales and proceeds will benefit the War Resisters League/A.J. Muste Institute.
MoRUS is at 155 Avenue C between Ninth Street and 10th Street.
I live abroad, but am a little familiar with this history. (See AW. Moore "ABC No Ro as an Anarchist Space", 2017, gated sadly.) The Switchboard came out of the Libertarian Book Club meeting at the "Peace Pentagon". They wanted their own space, so they got one. Younger rads pitched in, including punk rockers, improv musicians, and most especially squatters. Sorry to miss this show! Looking forward to learning more at the MoRUS museum when next in town.
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