(NEW YORK)— In response to the cancellation of a panel at the Albany Book Festival after two writers refused to participate with a Jewish moderator, 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. According to The Forward, Ko and Gawad objected to sitting on the panel with Albert because they did not want to appear with a “Zionist.”
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
