Facing backlash over its response to the Israel-Hamas war, PEN America has canceled its annual awards ceremony. Many nominees dropped out, including nine out of ten finalists for the Jean Stein Award. Authors affiliated with PEN have criticized the organization for allegedly favoring Israel and not adequately supporting Palestinians. In response, PEN has condemned the loss of life in Gaza, called for a ceasefire, and set up an emergency fund for Palestinian writers. President Jennifer Finney Boylan announced a committee would review the organization’s work to ensure alignment with its mission.
Critics have called the relief fund too small and noted PEN waited until March to endorse a ceasefire, five months after the war started. Prize money for the Jean Stein Award will be donated to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. A few winners have been selected, including Javier Fuentes’ “Countries of Origin” for the debut novel award and Tony Kushner for the writing for performance award. Some authors have called for the resignations of top officials, including CEO Suzanne Nossel. However, PEN has stated it has no plans to respond to calls for resignations.
Despite the cancellation of the awards ceremony, other PEN events such as the “World Voices” festivals and gala at the American Museum of Natural History will proceed as planned. Some high-profile authors, including Naomi Klein and Lorrie Moore, have stated they will not attend the festivals in protest. Meanwhile, former PEN presidents, including Salman Rushdie, have urged the literary community to participate in the festival. They emphasize the importance of coming together in times of conflict for insight and inspiration.
The cancellation of the PEN awards ceremony reflects the growing tensions over the Israel-Hamas war that have spread throughout the country. Some authors feel that PEN has not effectively championed the ideal of peace and equality in one world. Opinion remains divided on PEN’s response to the conflict, with some demanding more substantial support for Palestinians while others defend the organization’s efforts to condemn the violence. The fallout from the cancellation of the awards ceremony highlights the challenges of navigating complex political issues within the literary community. It remains to be seen how PEN America will address the criticisms and move forward in promoting free expression and literary excellence.
