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:
Related suggestion:
Climate activist Greta Thunberg detained twice at demonstration in The HagueIsrael to open three humanitarian routes into Gaza'Very significant' rise in home insurance premiums revealedUN expert visits Motueka to learn about Nelson Tenths caseChanges to flu vaccine eligibility missed opportunity to improve health equityChanges to tenancy laws to come into force next year'Devil in the details' when considering biofuelsIndigenous deaths in custody haunt AustraliaChina economy update: Evergrande shares plunge 70 per centWater tank installation programme changing lives in the Far North
1.2509s , 6491.046875 kb
Copyright © 2024 Powered by PEN America cancels World Voices Festival amid criticism of its response to Israel ,Culture Corner news portal