PEN America president resigns after report warns of threats to Jewish, Israeli authors

Dinaw Mengestu, president of PEN America, has resigned from his position in protest of a report concerning boycotts that target Jewish and Israeli authors. Mengestu, an Ethiopian-American novelist and professor, stated his belief that the PEN report, titled “A Silent Moratorium,” did not adequately defend the free-speech rights of individuals involved in boycotting Israel.

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It’s the First Amendment that allows all of us to engage in boycotts, not PEN America. PEN America as a free expression organization is supposed to defend that right.

In comments to The Atlantic, Mengestu asserted that the First Amendment protects the right to engage in boycotts, and PEN America, as an organization dedicated to free expression, should uphold that right. While Mengestu did not respond to direct requests for comment, an Instagram post suggested he might be considering establishing a new organization to rival PEN America. PEN America acknowledged Mengestu's resignation, expressing gratitude for his leadership and respect for his decision, while also referencing the organization's own internal challenges in navigating difficult conversations about writers from diverse perspectives.

The PEN report itself detailed the experiences of Jewish and Israeli writers who feel increasingly marginalized within the literary community due to their identity, nationality, or viewpoints. The report included interviews with Israel critics and literary agents who noted increased difficulties in representing Jewish authors, particularly following the Oct. 7 Hamas attack and the subsequent war in Gaza. It also referenced a previous report about a list of "Zionist" authors targeted for boycott and mentioned that Israeli novelist Etgar Keret and public radio host Ira Glass canceled an event in Australia due to fears of threats and protests.

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We tell hard stories, in politically challenging moments, about writers from a range of perspectives, even when it’s uncomfortable for us given our own recent history.

PEN America's report characterized this silencing and exclusion as a threat to the core principles of free expression. Concurrently, the organization updated its institutional policy on cultural boycotts, which it has historically opposed. While the report argued that boycotts endanger the free expression rights of their targets, the revised guidelines now also affirm the right of writers to participate in such boycotts, reflecting a nuanced stance on the issue.

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This silencing and exclusion of writers is a threat to what PEN America is fundamentally committed to defending: a culture of free expression for all.