PEN America calls off awards ceremony amid criticism over its response to Israel
NEW YORK (AP) — Facing widespread unhappiness over its response to the Israel-Hamas war, the writers’ group PEN America has called off its annual awards ceremony. Dozens of nominees had dropped out of the event, which was to have taken place next week.
PEN, a literary and free expression organization, hands out hundreds of thousands of dollars in prizes each year, including $75,000 for the PEN/Jean Stein Award for best book. But with nine of the 10 Jean Stein finalists withdrawing, along with nominees in categories ranging from translation to poetry, continuing with the ceremony at The Town Hall in Manhattan proved unworkable.
Among those dropping out was debut novel finalist Rachel Eliza Griffiths, wife of former PEN president Salman Rushdie.
“This is a beloved event and an enormous amount of work goes into it, so we all regret this outcome but ultimately concluded it was not possible to carry out a celebration in the way we had hoped and planned,” PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel said in a statement Monday.
Related articles
Nadal returns to Roland Garros to practice amid doubts over fitness and form
PARIS (AP) — Rafael Nadal returned to Roland Garros on Monday to practice and try and figure out whe2024-05-21Election 2024: Trump's youngest son picked as Florida delegate to RNC
MIAMI (AP) — Former President Donald Trump’s youngest son, Barron Trump, has been chosen to serve as2024-05-21China's exports and imports return to growth in April as demand improves
HONG KONG (AP) — China’s exports and imports returned to growth in April, suggesting that demand is2024-05-21Haiti violence: Transitional council embraces new changes following turmoil
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (AP) — A transitional council tasked with choosing new leaders for Haiti is ch2024-05-21Supreme Court declines to hear challenge to Maryland ban on rifles known as assault weapons
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Supreme Court on Monday declined, for now, to hear a challenge to a Maryland l2024-05-21Remains found nearly 50 years ago in Arizona identified as a Vietnam veteran from Minnesota
FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (AP) — Human remains found nearly 50 years ago in the Flagstaff area have been iden2024-05-21
atest comment