Book Bloc Brigade's book-shields at de Appel

Book Bloc Brigade was formed in response to the ongoing genocide in Gaza and the violent police repression of students at university encampments across the Netherlands. The book bloc consists of book covers scaled to shield dimensions. These shields are on view, but also available to borrow, during de Appel’s regular opening hours.

Invented by the Italian student movement in November 2010 against Berlusconi's education reform, a book bloc consists of book covers scaled to shield dimensions. They give reasons for revolt and resolve to resist, they protect against police brutality, they provide a walking bibliography and they make great media images. They are never a weapon. This time, the book bloc is back to support the university encampments and other protests in solidarity with the Palestinian liberation. With this Brigade, they want to continue to improve the shield design and teach people how to make them, in order to protect and embolden activists in their struggle. The station at de Appel makes the shields available to comrades to borrow (and return) when necessary during de Appel’s opening times. You can find the station next to the stairs leading to the exhibition space. Please ask a host at the reception for instructions.

de Appel hosts this art project as part of their social responsibility towards a free society.