Gui Minhai T-Shirts Arriving in Bookstores

“The T-shirt created by the American Booksellers for Free Expression (ABFE) as part of an international effort calling for China to release Hong Kong bookseller Gui Minhai is beginning to arrive in bookstores. An author and co-owner of Causeway Bay Bookstore, Gui Minhai is the last of five booksellers held by the Chinese government for publishing and selling gossipy and sometimes sensationalistic books about Chinese leaders.

The first shirts recently arrived at Square Books in Oxford, Mississippi. Store owner Richard Howorth suggested that ABFE create the shirt to raise funds to support efforts calling for the release of Gui Minhai, after hearing an interview with Gui’s daughter, Angela, who has been trying to draw attention to the fact that her father remains under arrest.

The front of the shirt bears Chinese characters demanding Gui Minhai’s release. The back reads, “American independent bookstores and readers for the release of Gui Minhai.” Profits will be donated to Free Gui Minhai, a campaign organized by Angela Gui.

Individual shirts can be purchased online for $20 with free shipping. For orders of 12 or more, the price is $8.50 per shirt; for orders of 72 or more, the cost goes down to $6.50 per shirt. Shipping and customization, including the addition of a store logo, is free.”