A day at Brentwood’s Country Mart: A community in turmoil

A serene scene with an undercurrent of tension

Brentwood’s Country Mart, a quaint and upscale shopping destination, appears to be business as usual. Patrons sip lattes at Caffe Luxxe’s patio, and a woman directs her teens towards Gwyneth Paltrow’s Goop store. The pastry counter at Farmshop has a queue, even as the lunch rush winds down. Regulars like Larry David or Jennifer Garner might be spotted on a sunny Wednesday afternoon.

However, the calm exterior masks the recent turmoil. Just days ago, a significant incident disrupted the peace. Near Diesel Bookstore’s entrance, a staff member approaches cautiously, reflecting the heightened alertness among employees. The bookstore has been the epicenter of tension, with threats still coming in via phone and email.

The incident that sparked controversy

The crisis began on September 22 when a Jewish woman noticed a book titled Understanding Hamas: And Why That Matters displayed prominently. Offended, she alerted another Jewish woman, leading to a heated confrontation with the bookstore staff, which was captured on video.

In the video, the woman expresses her outrage: “This is shameful! In a Jewish neighborhood! Why Hamas matters? Hamas is a terrorist organization.” She references the tragic events of October 7, when a surprise attack by Hamas resulted in over 1,200 deaths in Israel, marking the deadliest day in the country’s history. The ongoing conflict has since claimed thousands of lives on both sides.

A 17-year-old employee, who identifies as Jewish, responds, “I know plenty of Palestinians that have been murdered over the past year.” The woman, undeterred, demands the book’s removal, slamming it on the table as the recording ends.

The aftermath: Protests and community reactions

The video quickly spread across social media, leading to an organized protest the following Monday. Dozens of protestors blocked Diesel Bookstore’s entrances, chanting and displaying signs, including one comparing the book to Mein Kampf. The situation escalated, prompting the bookstore to lock its doors and turn off the lights. Security guards and LAPD officers eventually intervened, escorting staff to safety. No arrests were made, but the damage was significant.

Brentwood, home to many celebrities and affluent residents, prides itself on its community spirit. The Country Mart, established in 1948, serves as a central meeting place for locals and Hollywood luminaries alike. Diesel Bookstore, a fixture for 16 years, has hosted numerous events and gatherings, making the recent events particularly jarring for the community.

Divided opinions within the community

In the wake of the incident, opinions within the Country Mart community are divided. A staffer at a nearby boutique, who wished to remain anonymous, criticized the bookstore’s decision to sell the book, citing the predominantly Jewish clientele. “You have to know your audience and where you are. It’s offensive to a lot of people,” she explained.

Another staffer offered a more nuanced perspective, acknowledging the sadness on both sides. However, this view was met with tension from a colleague who insisted, “There’s only one right answer — end of discussion. Look at what happened on Oct. 7. People were killed and have since been raped and tortured by Hamas. It’s horrible and offensive to sell a book like that.”

In contrast, a Jewish staffer from another store emphasized the importance of freedom of speech and the right to carry books with different perspectives. “A book offended people, but that doesn’t mean it’s OK to harass people. They scared a 17-year-old minor. They put [their] face online and threatened [them]. It’s very sad that that happened.”

Navigating the aftermath

The incident at Diesel Bookstore has left a lasting impact on the Country Mart community. While the book has been removed from the store, it remains available on Diesel’s website, continuing to stir controversy. Some patrons have expressed fear and reluctance to visit the area, highlighting the deep divisions and ongoing tensions.

As the community grapples with the fallout, the incident serves as a stark reminder of the broader conflicts and sensitivities that can surface even in seemingly serene settings. The Country Mart, a symbol of Brentwood’s close-knit community, now faces the challenge of healing and finding common ground amidst the discord.

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A community divided over a controversial book

In the heart of Brentwood, a high-end fashion store at the Country Mart became the unlikely epicenter of a heated debate. The controversy began when a book perceived as promoting misinformation and hate was prominently displayed at Diesel Bookstore. The incident sparked a wave of reactions from the local community, with many questioning the bookstore’s decision to stock such a title.

Voices from the community

An employee at the fashion store expressed frustration over the uproar. “We live in a world where people just read headlines and book covers. Do people even know what’s in the book? Have they read it? Can’t they just walk past and ignore it?” the staffer questioned. “The owner apologized, and it seemed genuine to me. Can’t we just move on now? Personally, what matters most to me is kindness, tolerance, and respect.”

The bookstore’s response

Diesel Bookstore’s Instagram account posted, deleted, and then reposted an apology, which has since been removed. However, a statement introducing the new owners, Richard and Heather Turner, remains. The Turners, who took over the bookstore on August 1, emphasized their commitment to the free exchange of ideas and stories. “We have no political agenda and have not yet even had the chance to shape much of the content of the store… The book in question does not represent our values,” the post read.

The role of the previous owners

The previous owners, Alison Reid and John Evans, had committed to staying on for several months during the transition. However, it remains unclear who was responsible for ordering and displaying the controversial book. The new owners responded to the outcry by joining Scooter Braun, the HYBE America CEO, for an exclusive visit to L.A.’s Nova Exhibition, commemorating the 364 people killed by Hamas terrorists at the Nova Music Festival.

A call for understanding

Braun, a prominent figure in the community, shared his thoughts on the incident. “The reason I love this bookstore is it is filled always with books that I, as a proud Jewish father, can share with my children about their heritage. This store includes books of all different types of people, religions, and cultures, and unfortunately included a title that was filled with misinformation and hate,” he posted to his 3.7 million followers. Braun encouraged his followers to support the bookstore and keep it alive, highlighting the importance of leadership and understanding.

A different perspective

Zibby Owens, CEO and founder of Zibby Media, shared her disappointment. “It was heartbreaking for me as a Jewish person, a Jewish book lover, and a Jewish bookstore owner to see a book like [Understanding Hamas] prominently displayed and being defended by an employee. I’ve loved Diesel and have been going there forever,” Owens said. “I don’t think bookstores should be espousing hate or supporting terrorists in any way. That’s not the role of a bookstore.”

A similar incident

Oscar-nominated screenwriter Jonathan Herman recounted a similar experience at Skylight Books in L.A.’s Los Feliz neighborhood. After learning that Skylight was selling a book celebrating Hamas, Herman decided to take action. “I decided on my way there that I would buy whatever copies were there, pay for them, and make some kind of statement. When I arrived, I got more and more pissed off because it was a really positive book celebrating Hamas as some kind of respectable revolutionary organization,” Herman said. He recorded his interactions with the workers, who were polite but unhelpful, and then tore the books to shreds.

The broader implications

Herman expressed his disappointment over the amount of misinformation regarding the Israel-Hamas conflict. “It’s totally messed up that they would sell a book like that, not only in Los Angeles but in Brentwood where there are a lot of Jewish people. Don’t sell books that will be dangerous to the people who live there,” he continued. “There’s nothing journalistic about any of these books. It’s fake hagiography of Hamas and dangerous text. It’s all nonsense and gross.”

A plea for peace

Herman emphasized the need for accurate information and understanding. “We prefer to have peace,” he said, acknowledging the complexity and nuance of the Israel-Palestine conflict. Books that reinforce troubling narratives only serve to deepen divisions and misunderstandings.