Credit to all the good writers and speakers for standing up against manipulation and hate.
Indeed. Nice to see enough people joining in to have a real effect.
Love to see humans standing up for humanity
The director and the entire board quit too
After the board’s statement canceling Abdel-Fattah’s appearance, other speakers on the program — including British novelist Zadie Smith and former New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern — withdrew from their events too. The Festival’s director quit Tuesday, citing her objections to the board’s decision to disinvite Abdel-Fattah.
Louise Adler, a Jewish Australian, wrote in the Guardian that she could not “be party to silencing writers.” She said 70% of the event’s speakers had withdrawn.
Hours later, a statement on the Festival’s Facebook page said that the event would not proceed and that all remaining board members would resign. The statement, which was not attributed to a named individual, offered an apology to Abdel-Fattah for “how the decision was represented.”
Fuck YES! This one deserves a cricket cheer, if any of them do. How bloody awesome to see!
Jacinda Adern’s book was a pretty good read, considering I very very rarely consider reading a politician’s memoir
She’s also the author of probably my favorite quote from a sitting head of government ever:
