Literary series halted after outcry over canceled event with author critical of Israel
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Viet Thanh Nguyen in October 2018. Photo: Leonardo Cendamo/Getty Images
92NY announced Monday that it's pausing its prestigious literary reading series after pushback for canceling an event with a Pulitzer Prize-winning author who has made comments critical of Israel.
The big picture: It's the latest example of those critical of Israel reporting that their events have been canceled or postponed, or their voices silenced in the media.
Driving the news: 92NY, a leading cultural and community center in Manhattan, garnered criticism for its decision to cancel an event with Viet Thanh Nguyen on Friday.
- Over the weekend, a number of writers that were scheduled to appear at the center in coming months announced they were pulling out, and some of the center's staff resigned, the New York Times reports.
- 92NY announced Monday that its 2023-2024 literary series was "on pause given recent staff resignations," per the Times.
Catch up quick: Nguyen was among some 750 writers and artists who signed an open letter critical of Israel, calling for "an end to the violence and destruction in Palestine."
- He was scheduled to speak about his new book Friday at 92NY before the event was postponed. Nguyen said in a Facebook post Saturday that no reason was given for the event to be called off and no other date was offered.
What they're saying: "We are a Jewish institution that has always welcomed people with diverse viewpoints to our stage," 92NY said in a statement to media outlets.
- "Given the public comments by the invited author on Israel and this moment, we felt the responsible course of action was to postpone the event while we take some time to determine how best to use our platform and support the entire 92NY community," the statement continued.
Meanwhile, Nguyen said in an Instagram post over the weekend that he has "no regrets about anything I have said or done in regards to Palestine, Israel, or the occupation and war. I only regret that Bernard and other staff at the Y have been so deeply and negatively affected by standing up for art and writers."
- Nguyen and 92NY did not immediately respond to Axios' request for comment.
State of play: Critics of Israel's policies said they have had conferences suddenly canceled and appearances in the media "suppressed," The Guardian reports.
- Jewish American author Nathan Thrall said he had events promoting his book, "A Day in the Life of Abed Salama: A Palestine Story," canceled in the U.S. and U.K. following "very neutral advertising" on media platforms due to "listener complaints," per The Guardian.
Meanwhile, Rep. Rashida Tlaib (D-Mich.), the only Palestinian American member of Congress, was due to be the keynote speaker at the U.S. Campaign for Palestinian Rights' conference that was scheduled for this week.
- However, the USCPR said a Texas hotel canceled the event in a move the group called discriminatory. The Orthodox Jewish Chamber of Commerce both and Texas Gov. Greg Abbott (R) welcomed the move.
Of note: Paddy Cosgrave, the CEO and co-founder of Web Summit, one of the world's biggest tech conference companies, resigned over the weekend, following blowback to comments he made about the Hamas-Israel war.
- He apologized after suggesting Israel was guilty of war crimes in its response to Hamas' terrorist attacks.
Go deeper: Law firm rescinds job offers for students part of pro-Palestinian letter
