The Catalyst Infoshop was an

infoshop Infoshops are places in which people can access anarchist or autonomist ideas. They are often stand-alone projects, or can form part of a larger radical bookshop, archive, self-managed social centre or community centre. Typically, infoshops offer ...

and bookshop at 109 N. McCormick Street,

Prescott, Arizona Prescott ( ) is a city in Yavapai County, Arizona, United States. According to the 2020 Census, the city's population was 45,827. The city is the county seat of Yavapai County. In 1864, Prescott was designated as the capital of the Arizona ...

, founded in 2004. It had closed by 2010.

Foundation

Catalyst Infoshop was founded in an old railroad cabin in

in 2004, by Katie Rose Nelson and William C. Rodgers. The space was used for a reading group, a philosophy salon, a knitting circle, a high school girl club, a free school and an all ages venue. It was fostered by

Prescott College Prescott College is a private college in Prescott, Arizona. History In 1965, the Ford Foundation brought together a group of educators from around the United States. Prescott College was the result of this gathering. The college was originall ...

. By 2010, the infoshop had closed down.

Raid

On December 7, 2005, Catalyst Infoshop was raided by federal agents working on information provided by Jacob Ferguson. Rodgers and Nelson were both arrested. The raid was part of Operation Backfire investigating an

eco-terrorist Eco-terrorism is an act of violence which is committed in support of environmental causes, against people or property. The United States Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) defines eco-terrorism as "...the use or threatened use of violence ...

unit within the

Earth Liberation Front The Earth Liberation Front (ELF), also known as "Elves" or "The Elves", is the collective name for Wiktionary:Autonomy, autonomous individuals or covert cells who, according to the Earth Liberation Front Press Office, ELF Press Office, use "econom ...

that caused upwards of $20 million in damage across numerous states. Rodgers was charged by

Federal Bureau of Investigation The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic intelligence and security service of the United States and its principal federal law enforcement agency. Operating under the jurisdiction of the United States Department of Justice, ...

with masterminding the arson that destroyed the Two Elk Lodge in

Vail, Colorado Vail is a home rule municipality in Eagle County, Colorado, United States. The population of the town was 4,835 in 2020. Home to Vail Ski Resort, the largest ski mountain in Colorado, the town is known for its hotels, dining, and for the num ...

in 1998. Rodgers committed suicide by self-asphyxiation, in jail, two weeks after his arrest and before standing trial.

References

External links

The Catalyst Infoshop (archive)
{{coord, 34, 32, 22.57, N, 112, 28, 26.04, W, type:landmark_region:US, display=title Infoshops Prescott, Arizona