Credit to all the good writers and speakers for standing up against manipulation and hate.

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 She said 70% of the event’s speakers had withdrawn.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