The public acknowledgement from Readings regarding the previous treatment of this event marks a necessary correction. While this settles the matter of our request, I hope this serves as a reminder that thoughtful discourse remains essential in our community.
March 30, 2021
Final supporters
In July 2018, Readings Books hosted an event with Mary Crooks, CEO of the Victorian Women's Trust interviewing Julie Bindel, feminist and author of The Pimping of Prostitution. It was a sell-out success.
Three years later, Readings cancelled the event.
Of course, you can't cancel something which has already happened. Time doesn't work that way, at least not according to the 'Science' section of the bookstore. But Readings went ahead and issued an apology for the event anyway, insulting Julie Bindel, Mary Crooks, and their audience and consumers.
After an uproar, Readings removed the apology. But has it apologised to Julie Bindel? No.
Mark Rubbo of Readings, if you would like to let people who value feminism, real activism, freedom of thought and freedom of speech know that we should shop in your stores again, apologise publicly to Julie.
Read more here: ‘We apologise for any hurt’: Readings regrets 2018 event with feminist author Julie Bindel (smh.com.au)
Note: donations go to iPetition, not to the Victorian Women's Guild.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
February 25, 2021
Reached 100 supporters
February 25, 2021
158 Comments
I was at this author talk with my sister. The light Julie Bindel has shone on misogyny and the practical good she has done for women, especially disadvantaged women, is immeasurable. You owe her an apology.
It is horrific that staff at a bookshop can be so abused and harassed by people claiming to be supporting others that years after an event the workers want to apologise for holding it. What happened to authors rights to present ideas. Please say sorry to Julie Bindel for rejecting her work.
I thought you stood for principles? If you removed the ill considered apology for hosting. Then surely someone with principle would apologize to the person they actually besmirched? The lack of one really does show how shallow the convictions run.
Julie is a tireless fighter for women in life and law. If you think you need to apologise for working with this legend of feminism then you have got things badly wrong. Now is the time to apologise and put things right. Be proud you worked with her, she’s brilliant.
That Readings (a bookstore I have purchased books from for decades) would treat a woman who has world tirelessly for decades for the rights of the most vulnerable women in our society is shameful.
I will never buy another book from Readings again. I truly don’t understand how you can treat a woman like this. You have tried to bury the incident and hope it will go away. Read the room- women in Australia are fed up being bullied, sexually assaulted, ignored. Mark Rubbo you are part of the make cabal that silences women. You’re also a coward. You have refused to make any comment about Bindel’s treatment.
Very disappointed that Readings has not yet apologised to Julie Bindel for behaving so appallingly. Readings was the only place I bought books, but I’m now doing my book-buying elsewhere.
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
Your share link
The public acknowledgement from Readings regarding the previous treatment of this event marks a necessary correction. While this settles the matter of our request, I hope this serves as a reminder that thoughtful discourse remains essential in our community.
March 30, 2021
Final supporters
In July 2018, Readings Books hosted an event with Mary Crooks, CEO of the Victorian Women's Trust interviewing Julie Bindel, feminist and author of The Pimping of Prostitution. It was a sell-out success.
Three years later, Readings cancelled the event.
Of course, you can't cancel something which has already happened. Time doesn't work that way, at least not according to the 'Science' section of the bookstore. But Readings went ahead and issued an apology for the event anyway, insulting Julie Bindel, Mary Crooks, and their audience and consumers.
After an uproar, Readings removed the apology. But has it apologised to Julie Bindel? No.
Mark Rubbo of Readings, if you would like to let people who value feminism, real activism, freedom of thought and freedom of speech know that we should shop in your stores again, apologise publicly to Julie.
Read more here: ‘We apologise for any hurt’: Readings regrets 2018 event with feminist author Julie Bindel (smh.com.au)
Note: donations go to iPetition, not to the Victorian Women's Guild.
Updates
Reached 250 supporters
February 25, 2021
Reached 100 supporters
February 25, 2021
158 Comments
Apologise or this Melbourne feminist will never return to your store. Women are born not worn and attempting to cancel a left wing feminist doing incredible work to pander to a male identifying as a women is misguided and misogynistic.
I was at this author talk with my sister. The light Julie Bindel has shone on misogyny and the practical good she has done for women, especially disadvantaged women, is immeasurable. You owe her an apology.
It is horrific that staff at a bookshop can be so abused and harassed by people claiming to be supporting others that years after an event the workers want to apologise for holding it. What happened to authors rights to present ideas. Please say sorry to Julie Bindel for rejecting her work.
I thought you stood for principles? If you removed the ill considered apology for hosting. Then surely someone with principle would apologize to the person they actually besmirched? The lack of one really does show how shallow the convictions run.
Julie is a tireless fighter for women in life and law. If you think you need to apologise for working with this legend of feminism then you have got things badly wrong. Now is the time to apologise and put things right. Be proud you worked with her, she’s brilliant.
That Readings (a bookstore I have purchased books from for decades) would treat a woman who has world tirelessly for decades for the rights of the most vulnerable women in our society is shameful.
I will never buy another book from Readings again. I truly don’t understand how you can treat a woman like this. You have tried to bury the incident and hope it will go away. Read the room- women in Australia are fed up being bullied, sexually assaulted, ignored. Mark Rubbo you are part of the make cabal that silences women. You’re also a coward. You have refused to make any comment about Bindel’s treatment.
Very disappointed that Readings has not yet apologised to Julie Bindel for behaving so appallingly. Readings was the only place I bought books, but I’m now doing my book-buying elsewhere.
Share this petition
Share this petition to help it reach more people.
Your share link
Petitions like this
Other petitions you might want to support
Scan to share
Anyone who scans this can sign the petition.
Apologise or this Melbourne feminist will never return to your store. Women are born not worn and attempting to cancel a left wing feminist doing incredible work to pander to a male identifying as a women is misguided and misogynistic.