Denver bookstore worker forced out of job for supporting ICE

Kwame Spearman is no longer affiliated with the newly opened Denver Book Society, the store announced in a statement Friday, just weeks after opening. “It became clear that a change in leadership was needed,” the store said.

The store owner, Rich Garvin, said it was a decisive decision and that he will assume full leadership of the shop.

“Kwame is passionate about preserving independent bookstores and I'm appreciative of his early contributions,” he said. “However, his continued involvement in the Denver Book Society is not serving the mission of this bookstore.”

Spearman’s departure follows social media backlash after the opening. Spearman, who previously ran for mayor of Denver, allegedly shared views about ICE on the store’s public social media account. Garvin responded to this, saying, “We didn’t approve of how he approached this messaging, or how he engaged with our community in the comments of that post. Please rest assured that DBS remains firmly in support of immigrant rights.”

Online critics had also pointed to Spearman’s tenure with Tattered Cover, raising concerns about comments he made during his mayoral campaign. According to the Daily Mail, Spearman had suggested that there were “opportunities for that cooperation between the suburban cities and the counties with the federal government” during the race. Spearman later pushed back against criticisms of his comments.

“I don't support ICE,” he said. “Never have.”

The controversy prompted calls for a boycott of the bookstore, increasing pressure. Garvin responded, saying, “This is my greatest passion project; I'm sorry that personnel choices alienated the Denver community and that I failed to recognize these issues in advance.”

He also noted that Kwame was represented as a partner of the store but was actually a consultant brought in to help operations.

“From the very beginning, the plan was that once we reached this point, I would transition out of my role in the business and the bookstore would move forward under Rich's sole leadership,” he explained. “This transition is not a change in direction. It is the completion of the original plan.”

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