PEN America president Dinaw Mengestu resigned July 9 after the free-expression group published a report documenting the exclusion of Jewish and Israeli writers from literary life, exposing deepening fault lines over free speech and cultural boycotts in the publishing industry.
PEN America President Dinaw Mengestu resigned last week after the free-expression group published a report documenting the exclusion of Jewish and Israeli writers from literary life, exposing deepening fault lines over free speech and cultural boycotts in the publishing industry.
Mengestu, who took the helm of the nonprofit in December 2025, announced his departure July 9 in an Instagram post, citing PEN America's "ongoing failure to defend free expression fairly and equitably." His resignation came hours after the organization published "A Silent Moratorium," a report based on interviews with more than 30 Jewish and Israeli writers and literary professionals who described a pattern of event cancellations, review-bombing, blacklists and difficulty selling manuscripts since the Oct. 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
"The report makes clear that change will not happen," Mengestu wrote, arguing that PEN's restated opposition to cultural boycotts effectively suppressed pro-Palestinian speech. He called the organization's position "unethical" in an interview with the Atlantic.
The report documented that a literary agent for Israeli writers said she had not sold a book by an Israeli since October 2023. One romance novelist was told to strip Jewish references from her manuscript. A children's author who wrote about a character bringing matzah to life was accused of "supporting genocide." Public radio host Ira Glass and Israeli novelist Etgar Keret canceled a planned live event in Australia over fears of threats and protests.
PEN America's report also cited a 2024 viral online list targeting "Zionist" authors for blacklisting, which the Jewish Telegraphic Agency first reported. The organization said it opposes cultural boycotts but defends the right of others to participate in them — a position Mengestu called contradictory.
The free speech fault line
The resignation marks the latest upheaval at PEN America, which has been roiled by Israel-related controversies since October 2023. The organization canceled its 2024 awards ceremony amid protests over its handling of the Gaza war. Former CEO Suzanne Nossel stepped down in December 2024 after months of blowback from authors who felt the group was insufficiently critical of Israel.
An activist coalition called Writers Against the War in Gaza celebrated Nossel's departure, declaring that "Zionism will not be tolerated in our literary worlds." The group also hailed Mengestu's resignation, saying "normalization of Zionism will never again be tolerated by the literary community."
The Anti-Defamation League said it was "deeply troubled" by Mengestu's resignation, arguing that "freedom of expression means opposing efforts to boycott, silence, or exclude writers because of their identity or nationality."
In a Wall Street Journal op-ed published Tuesday, Meg Keene, a writer quoted in the PEN report, criticized the organization for equivocating. She noted that PEN described Jewish and Israeli writers as feeling "shut out" rather than stating directly that they were being discriminated against. "PEN can see the discrimination," Keene wrote. "It struggles to name it when the targets are Jews and Israelis."
What's at stake for free expression
The dispute centers on whether cultural boycotts constitute protected speech or discriminatory exclusion. PEN America officially opposes academic and cultural boycotts, including the boycott, divestment and sanctions movement against Israel. But Mengestu argued that boycotts are "a form of dialogue" and that PEN's position could fuel anti-BDS legislation that violates First Amendment protections.
The organization's report acknowledged that "blatant hostility, discrimination, and hate" are driving the exclusion of Jewish and Israeli writers, but stopped short of labeling the pattern as antisemitism. PEN said it "occupies a space in the free expression world that few other organizations are willing to hold" by reporting on difficult topics.
Tracy Higgins, currently executive vice president of the PEN America board, will serve as interim president. The next president will be selected from the board and submitted to a vote among PEN's members. Mengestu said he is cutting ties with PEN America permanently and implied he may launch a new free speech advocacy project.
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