Greater than 275 authors have signed an open letter calling for the organizers of the Portland E book Pageant to finish its partnerships with a number of main banks. The letter, revealed within the journal Literary Hub on July 29, says sponsorships from Financial institution of America and Wells Fargo are tied to earnings constructed from the manufacturing of weapons being utilized by Israel in its warfare with Gaza.
The authors who signed the letter argue that the sponsorships are inconsistent with the values of Literary Arts, the nonprofit that organizes the competition, which takes place Saturday. Nov. 8.
“Literary Arts has foregrounded many writers who communicate fact to energy, from Ursula Ok. Le Guin to Ta-Nehisi Coates, from Viet Thanh Nguyen to Omar El Akkad,” reads the letter.
“In that spirit, we ask you to say ‘no’ to sponsorship from banks that revenue from and facilitate the destruction of Palestine, which might be deeply implicated within the international arms commerce general and which go in opposition to the spirit of the work of the writers you in any other case middle. Allow us to come collectively to rejoice literature with out lending these banks the shine of our collective goals for a greater future, with out serving to the reputations of those that revenue off demise within the shadows.”
The open letter arrives as artistic communities weigh tips on how to talk about Palestine and Israel within the months main as much as the second anniversary of Hamas’ Oct. 7 assault on Israel. (Regina Spektor’s live performance at Revolution Corridor on July 26, for instance, noticed some attendees heckle the Jewish, overtly pro-Israel musician, asking her to say “Free Palestine,” earlier than Spektor requested them to depart.)
Together with Nguyen and El Akkad, writers who’ve signed the letter embrace Naomi Klein, Alexander Chee, Callum Angus and Dao Strom, the latter of whom will seem at this 12 months’s Time Primarily based Arts Pageant in September. Different native figures who signed the letter embrace award-winning writers like Cari Luna, Emilly Prado, jzl jmz, journalists Leah Sottile and Katey Trnka and the house owners of ebook shops together with Nationale, At all times Right here Bookstore and the Impartial Publishing Useful resource Middle.
The letter’s signatories say the banks sponsoring the competition have invested in firms that offer weapons and navy expertise to Israel, together with Raytheon, Elbit, Lockheed Martin, Palantir and Basic Dynamic. (Representatives for Financial institution of America and Wells Fargo didn’t instantly reply to WW’s requests for remark).
In response, Literary Arts stated its sponsorships are essential to the occasion’s prospects.
“We’re conscious of considerations raised relating to Portland E book Pageant sponsorships,” reads a press release Literary Arts shared with WW. “We take critically the values and voices of the literary neighborhood. Sponsorships allow the Portland E book Pageant to stay accessible and community-focused, and we stay dedicated to listening, participating respectfully, and supporting various views.”
Trnka, whose bylines embrace WW, says it wouldn’t be such a foul factor if Literary Arts’ sponsorships dried up. She remembers when the Portland E book Pageant—which begins ticket gross sales Aug. 26—converted from its roots as Wordstock.
“I bear in mind when it got here again with the Financial institution of America sponsorship and it simply felt so totally different and really company,” she says. “There have been big lengthy strains to see authors when it used to really feel a lot extra communal. It is a private attachment, however on a broader scale Financial institution of America’s continued arming of Israel financially, and many others. is simply appalling.”
“And I’m a credit score union woman anyway,” Trnka added.
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