What's happened
PEN America has canceled its World Voices Festival and annual literary awards ceremony following criticism over its response to Israel's actions in Gaza, leading to numerous withdrawals from participants and nominees.
Why it matters
The cancellations by PEN America highlight the challenges faced by organizations in navigating political pressures while upholding their core values of free expression. The events underscore the broader debate around the intersection of culture, politics, and activism.
What the papers say
The New York Times reports on the cancellations by PEN America, emphasizing the internal dissent and external pressures faced by the organization. The Guardian provides a detailed account of the withdrawals by authors from the World Voices festival and the annual awards ceremony, shedding light on the reasons behind their decisions.
How we got here
PEN America, a nonprofit organization dedicated to free expression, faced criticism over its perceived lack of support for Palestinian writers amidst the Israel-Hamas conflict. The cancellations came after a significant number of participants withdrew from the events, citing differences with the organization's stance on Gaza.
Common question
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