Posters for some of the events being held around the country from the Writers Resist poster gallery.
Writers Resist “Literary Protests” to Take Place January 15 Across the U.S.
January 12, 2017 | Revolution Newspaper | revcom.us
On Sunday, January 15, writers across the U.S. and in a number of other countries are holding Writers Resist events to “focus public attention on the ideals of a free, just, and compassionate society.” Writers Resist was launched by poet, activist, and founder of feminist literary group VIDA, Erin Belieu. As of this writing, there are more than 90 Writers Resist events announced (see info and links here), including in NYC, Houston, Austin, New Orleans, Seattle, Spokane, Los Angeles, London, Zurich, Boston, Omaha, Kansas City, Jacksonville, Madison, Milwaukee, Bloomington, Baltimore, Oakland, Tallahassee, Newport, Santa Fe, Salt Lake, and Portland (Oregon and Maine), and many other cities.
PEN America, the writers’ group that is co-sponsoring the flagship Writers Resist event in New York City, says: “This literary protest will bring together hundreds of writers and their fellow New Yorkers on the steps of the New York Public Library in a collective stand to defend free expression, reject hatred, and uphold truth in the face of lies and misinformation.” The event “will feature readings and performances by some of the biggest names in arts and literature. Award-winning authors Andrew Solomon, Masha Gessen, Laurie Anderson, Rosanne Cash, Jeff Eugenides, Amy Goodman, Jacqueline Woodson, Monica Youn, A.M. Homes, Moustafa Bayoumi, Alexander Chee, Michael Cunningham, and others will read from a curated set of diverse writings and seminal texts that embody the ideals of democracy and free expression....” The NYC event includes plans for the participants to deliver a pledge to defend the First Amendment—signed by more 150,000 people, including all past U.S. Poets Laureate—to the Trump presidential transition team.
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