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.
Pictured: Wealthy estate agent, 60, with lover, 54, he is accused of murdering at luxury five
Chinese naval hospital ship back home after visit to Jakarta
William Strickland, a longtime civil rights activist, scholar and friend of Malcom X, has died
China urges U.S. to stop harassing Chinese students
Chad kicks off presidential campaign
Kremlin calls Biden's remarks on Putin unacceptable
Biden will send Ukraine air defense weapons, artillery once Senate approves, Zelenskyy says
Chinese, Australian FMs hold strategic dialogue
Matt Ryan calls it a career. The quarterback officially announces his retirement
One year of war in Sudan, thousands killed, millions displaced amid imminent famine