Abbie Hoffman Memorial Free Store

History
The Abbie Hoffman Memorial Free Store evolved from Joshua Gannon-Salomon's 19th birthday party, a Really Really Free Market &amp; Potluck. Joshua and friends had a wonderful time making merry and 'shopping' for the items that partygoers had brought to give away, but not everything was gone at the end of the evening. Among the items still 'for sale' was a piece of vintage luggage, which was set up as a "free box" in the Merrill C2 Lounge. Items came and went for a couple of weeks, and among the items was a large poster from the movie Chicago Ten, which featured a picture of Abbie Hoffman. One day in February of 2008, in a moment of inspiration, Joshua cut out the portrait from the poster and taped it up on the wall of the lounge, with a sign that reads "Abbie Hoffman Memorial Free Store." The store has been in "business" ever since.

Name
The Abbie Hoffman Memorial Free Store is named for Abbie Hoffman, an Anarchist activist, organizer, political prankster, radical author, and founding member of the Youth International Party, or Yippies. His humorous direct actions, such as throwing fistfuls of dollar bills onto the floor of the New York Stock Exchange to watch the traders scramble for the money, organizing the demonstrations at the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago, and nominating a piglet for President, earned him fame from the New Left, but law enforcement from local cops to the FBI hounded him for the rest of his life. Early in his career, he worked in a free store, giving away clothes, books, food, bedding, even marijuana for free. Joshua Gannon-Salomon knew this, and made the Free Store to honor the legacy of this great American.

Location and Status
The Free Store is currently located on the C2 Lounge. Donations can be taken directly there or left with Joshua Gannon-Salomon (C214).

Outside Links
Abbie Hoffman on Wikipedia [] Really Really Free Market on Wikipedia [] Yippies on Wikipedia []