PEN America cancels World Voices Festival amid criticism of its response to Israel
NEW YORK (AP) — PEN America has canceled its annual World Voices Festival, as the literary and free expression organization continues to face widespread unhappiness with its response to the Israel-Hamas war. Earlier this week, PEN called off its awards ceremony after nearly half of the finalists withdrew from contention.
The festival, which brings in writers from around the world, was to have taken place next month in New York and Los Angeles. PEN CEO Suzanne Nossel expressed regret over the cancellation, saying it contrasted with why Salman Rushdie among others established the festival 20 years ago.
Naomi Klein, Michelle Alexander, Hisham Matar and dozens of other writers endorsed an open letter in March saying they would not participate in the festival.
“PEN America exists to unite writers in defense of free expression. The premise of World Voices is to engage across wide chasms of worldview and belief, including fostering direct conversation between and among those who disagree profoundly,” Nossel said in a statement Friday.
Related articles
- There’s a cough going around that paediatricians tell me is making babies really unwell. What’s deep2024-05-09
Olympic refugee athlete Lohalith suspended in the team's 3rd doping case ahead of Paris Games
GENEVA (AP) — A third runner on the Refugee Olympic Team has been suspended for a positive doping te2024-05-09Chris Hemsworth flexes muscular form as sword
On Monday, Chris Hemsworth ditched his elegant, ornate-looking Thor costume in favor of a more carto2024-05-09Life sentence for gang member who turned northern Virginia into 'hunting ground'
ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — Even in the violent world of the MS-13 street gang, the killings in northern2024-05-09Giro leader Tadej Pogacar finally takes it easy in Stage 4. Jonathan Milan takes a sprint victory
ANDORA, Italy (AP) — On the fourth day of his first Giro d’Italia, Tadej Pogacar finally took it eas2024-05-09Mexican officials regret US decision not to retry American rancher in fatal shooting of Mexican man
PHOENIX (AP) — Mexico’s top official in the Arizona border town of Nogales said Tuesday his country2024-05-09
atest comment