During the 2011 riots in London, bookstores were the only thing left completely alone!

When chaos strikes and you don’t know where to go, when everyone is rioting and looting, will you join the masses? Where would you loot first to get what you need? The electronics store? Perhaps, a bookstore. No? Neither would any of the 2011 London rioters.

While nearly every other kind of shop from furniture stores to antique shops, was attacked, those who sold the ancient treasure of book-bound knowledge were left completely untouched. While it is an objective fact that books wouldn’t keep you alive or help feed your family during such chaos, this does make an unfortunate statement about the priority of modern global culture.

Some bookstores in London even felt comfortable enough to leave their stores open. One employee figured that it would be a good thing. He even remarked that if they were to steal something from their store they “might learn something.”

Unfortunately, one bookstore was in fact vandalized. It was theorized that the store was attacked because the owners were openly gay.

(Source)