Dec. 6, 2024 Update: An earlier version of this press release responded to reporting that has since been disputed by both Lisa Ko and Aisha Abdel Gawad. They have stated that their comments and the reason for the cancellation of the event in question have been misrepresented. The Writers Institute has also since apologized to all the panel participants for “not treating this programming with the careful consideration it needed and for any consequences they faced as a result.” The press release below has been revised accordingly.
We regret that the initial statement did not reflect these writers’ accounts. We also condemn the threats and harassment Ko and Gawad have faced in the wake of this incident, as well as loss of livelihood, one instance of which PEN America spoke out against in September.
(NEW YORK)— In response to the cancellation of a panel at the Albany Book Festival, PEN America issued the following statement:
“It is deeply distressing that any writer would be denied the opportunity to speak and engage in conversation about their craft because of their identity. All writers have a right to make decisions about where they participate and how, but it is tragic and outrageous to see that result in other writers being silenced and discriminated against. In these contentious times, we believe it is critical to maintain a commitment to dialogue and engagement. At its best, literature can be a bridge across difference, and a vital alternative to exclusion and censorship.”
The panel was scheduled with Elisa Albert as moderator in conversation with Aisha Abdel Gawad, Lisa Ko and Emily Layden.
About PEN America
PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. Learn more at pen.org.
Contact: Suzanne Trimel, [email protected], (201) 247-5057