If you’re reading this space, chances are you’ve heard of Writers Resist (soon to become Write Our Democracy), which held over 100 events across the country this week in support of free speech and artistic expression. The flagship Writers Resist event, hosted by PEN America and appropriately coinciding with Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday, took place in New York City on the steps of the New York Public Library. Over 2,000 writers, artists, and lovers of literature gathered to protest the hateful, exclusionary, anti-truth, and anti-journalism rhetoric of our president-elect, and support freedom of expression for all. US poet laureates Robert Pinsky and Rita Dove were in attendance, along with Eve Ensler, Art Spiegelman, Andrew Solomon, Jacqueline Woodson, Rosanne Cash, Tom Healy, Siri Hustvedt, Francine Prose, and Marie Ponsot (who is 95!), among others. Literary posters created by Molly Crabapple, as well as many homemade signs, flew above the crowd. For those who couldn’t make it to this historic literary protest, or just want to relive the experience, PEN American has provided a few photos from the event. See highlights below, and many more here.
(©Terence Jennings/PEN America)
Andrew Solomon (©Terence Jennings/PEN America)
Black Lives Matter Activists Storm Ervin and Zachary Wood read ‘What do we have to lose? Everything’ by Harry Belafonte at PEN America’s Writers Resist NYC rally (©Terence Jennings/PEN America)
(©Terence Jennings/PEN America)
Tom Healy, Siri Hustvedt, and Francine Prose (©Terence Jennings/PEN America)
(©Terence Jennings/PEN America)
Robert Pinsky, Rita Dove, and Suzanne Nossel (©Terence Jennings/PEN America)
(©Terence Jennings/PEN America)
Rosanne Cash, Morley, Carla Duren, and Eisa Davis sing “Ella’s Song” at PEN America’s ‘Writers Resist NYC’ rally (©Terence Jennings/PEN America)
(©Terence Jennings/PEN America)
Charlie Vasquez, Brad Hoylman, and Moustafa Bayoumi (©Terence Jennings/PEN America)
(©Terence Jennings/PEN America)
(©Terence Jennings/PEN America)
Marie Ponsot (©Terence Jennings/PEN America)
Rita Dove (©Terence Jennings/PEN America)
PEN America Writers Resist protesters march to You-Know-Who tower. (©Ed Lederman/PEN America)
Watch: Jacqueline Woodson talks to Lit Hub at the National Book Awards on writing what matters instead of what sells.