View source for Writers Against the War on Gaza

{{Short description|American advocacy group}}
{{pp|small=yes}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Writers Against the War on Gaza
| formation = 2023
| nickname = WAWOG
| location_country = United States
| website = https://www.writersagainstthewarongaza.com/
}}
'''Writers Against the War on Gaza''' (also known as '''WAWOG''') is a coalition of writers, academics, artists, journalists, and culture workers seeking to protest the [[Israel–Hamas war]] and mobilize for [[Palestinian nationalism|Palestinian liberation]] via cultural organizing.<ref name=":02" /> Their tactics are based on Vietnam War-era culture worker mobilization, and, in particular, the organization [[American Writers Against the Vietnam War]].<ref name=":02" />
== Founding ==
WAWOG was formed in October 2023 by a group of writers and editors who came together to protest the Israel-Hamas war.<ref name=":02">{{Cite web |last=Evans |first=Nia T |date=November 2023 |title=Petitions, Group Chats, and Resignations: Inside the Artist's Fight to Stop the War on Gaza |url=https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2023/11/petitions-group-chats-and-resignations-inside-the-artists-fight-to-stop-the-war-on-gaza/ |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=Mother Jones |language=en-US}}</ref> In an interview with Mother Jones, one of the founding members said that after the [[2023 Hamas-led attack on Israel|October 7]], they began receiving a lot of petitions and open letters in support of Palestine in their inbox.<ref name=":02" /> The founding members wanted to create infrastructure to help the aims of the petitions they were signing be realized.<ref name=":02" /> On October 26, WAWOG put out their own open letter, "Writers Against the War on Gaza Statement of Solidarity."<ref>{{Cite web |title=Signatories |url=https://www.writersagainstthewarongaza.com/signatories |access-date=2024-03-25 |website=WRITERS AGAINST THE WAR ON GAZA |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":1">{{Cite web |date=2023-10-27 |title=Join the thousands of writers who have signed this letter for Gaza. |url=https://lithub.com/join-thousands-of-writers-in-signing-this-letter-for-gaza/ |access-date=2024-04-02 |website=Literary Hub |language=en-US}}</ref> By November, WAWOG's organizing committee had approximately 30 people.<ref name=":02" />
== Principles ==
WAWOG defines itself as an organization participating in a "cultural boycott" of Israel.<ref name=":02" /> They seek to show that Israel's actions in Gaza are "not normal" and to resist the [[Criticism of Israel#Objections to characterizing criticism of Israel as anti-Semitism|conflation of anti-Zionism with antisemitism.]]<ref name=":1" /> They also want to make [[Palestinian nationalism|Palestinian liberation]] mainstream, and to pressure the media to cover the [[Israeli–Palestinian conflict|Israel-Palestine conflict]] in a way that uplifts Palestinian voices.<ref name=":02" />
The group's tactics are informed by the [[Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions|Boycott, Divestment, and Sanctions (BDS)]] movement, a non-violent method that seeks to [[Economic sanctions|economically sanction]] Israel into complying with [[international law]].<ref name=":02" /> WAWOG also finds inspiration in the organization [[ACT UP]], which produced art that [[HIV/AIDS activism|shed light]] on the [[HIV/AIDS in the United States|HIV/AIDS epidemic]].<ref name=":02" /> Actions taken by WAWOG members include quitting positions at publications that members say spread [[Misinformation in the Israel–Hamas war|biased or incorrect information about the Israel-Hamas war]]<ref name=":02" /><ref name=":5">{{Cite web |title=Jazmine Hughes and Jamie Lauren Keiles on resigning from the New York Times Magazine; 2000+ writers boycott the Poetry Foundation |url=https://www.bookforum.com/papertrail/jazmine-hughes-and-jamie-lauren-keiles-on-leaving-the-new-york-times-magazine-2000-writers-boycott-the-poetry-foundation-25274 |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=www.bookforum.com |language=en-US}}</ref> and staging protests of US cultural institutions (such as the ''[[The New York Times|New York Times]]'') that members say have similar bias.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Video: Antiwar Activists Accuse The New York Times of 'Manufacturing Consent' for Genocide in Gaza |url=https://indypendent.org/2024/03/video-activists-accuse-the-new-york-times-of-manufacturing-consent-for-genocide-in-gaza/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |language=en-US}}</ref>
== Notable actions ==
=== New York City ===
==== 2023 ====
Initially calling the New York group "Writer's Bloc," WAWOG staged their first sit-in at the ''New York Times''.<ref name=":9">{{Cite web |date=2023-11-09 |title=Protesters stage sit-in at New York Times headquarters to call for cease-fire in Gaza |url=https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/media-workers-stage-sit-in-at-new-york-times-headquarters-to-call-for-ceasefire-in-gaza/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=The Seattle Times |language=en-US}}</ref> They carried a banner calling for a ceasefire, distributed a fake newspaper named ''The New York War Crimes'', and read the names of all of the Palestinians killed in Gaza.<ref name=":9" /> WAWOG accused the ''New York Times'' of being "complicit in laundering genocide."<ref name=":9" /> Volume 1, No. 1-3 over 7,000 names, released by the Gaza Health Ministry by October, were printed using a broadsheet format. <blockquote>"We initially listed the names of martyrs. About 7,000 had just been released by the Gaza Health Ministry in late October and it took us three issues to print all those names. Since then, the breakdown of the health system in Gaza has meant there is no single list of names of people who have been killed by Zionist forces. So we then started using the broadsheet format to print new writing."<ref>{{Cite web |last=Read |first=Hard to |date=2024-05-13 |title=Taking care with the weird, wild, and political literatures of Hard to Read |url=https://www.documentjournal.com/2024/05/groupchat-hard-to-read-literature-activism-writers-against-war-on-gaza/ |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=Document Journal |language=en-US}}</ref></blockquote>On November 23, WAWOG members jumped the barricades at the [[Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade]] and glued their hands to the ground to make themselves more difficult to remove by the [[New York City Police Department|New York Police Department]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |last=Quigley |first=Liam |date=2023-11-23 |title=Gaza War protesters disrupt NYC Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, vandalize NY Public Library |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/2023/11/23/pro-palestine-protesters-disrupt-nyc-macys-thanksgiving-day-parade/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=New York Daily News |language=en-US}}</ref> Parade floats navigated around the protesters as they chanted "[[Free Gaza Movement|Free Palestine]]", poured fake blood on each other and in the street, and opened a large sign that said "Genocide then genocide now."<ref name=":0" />
WAWOG held a vigil for Palestinian journalists killed in the Israel-Hamas war on the steps of the [[New York Public Library]] on December 19.<ref name=":2">{{Cite web |date=2023-12-20 |title=There was a vigil for Palestinian journalists on the steps of the New York Public Library last night. |url=https://lithub.com/there-was-a-vigil-for-palestinian-journalists-on-the-steps-of-the-new-york-public-library-last-night/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=Literary Hub |language=en-US}}</ref><ref name=":3">{{Cite news |last=Salazar |first=Nicole |date=2023-12-20 |title=Video: Vigil Commemorates Journalists Killed in Gaza |url=https://www.nytimes.com/video/world/middleeast/100000009233630/israel-gaza-journalists-killed.html |access-date=2024-04-03 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}</ref> At the vigil, the writers read out the Palestinian writer and activist [[Refaat Alareer|Refaat Aleer's]] poem, "If I Must Die," due to him being slain in the war.<ref name=":2" /> They also read out the names of Palestinian journalists who had been killed in Gaza.<ref name=":2" /><ref name=":3" /> WAWOG held a similar vigil on January 24, 2024.<ref name=":7">{{Cite web |date=2024-01-16 |title=NYC and LA are holding vigils for the martyred writers, poets, and journalists of Gaza. |url=https://lithub.com/nyc-and-la-are-holding-vigils-for-the-martyred-writers-poets-and-journalists-of-gaza/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=Literary Hub |language=en-US}}</ref>
==== 2024 ====
On January 8, WAWOG coordinated with [[Palestinian Youth Movement]], [[The Palestine Right to Return Coalition]], [[Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network]], [[Democratic Socialists of America]], [[Jewish Voice for Peace]], the [[Party for Socialism and Liberation]], and [[Critical Resistance]] to block the [[Brooklyn Bridge]], [[Manhattan Bridge]], [[Holland Tunnel]], and [[Williamsburg Bridge]].<ref name=":4">{{Cite web |title=Protests Urging Gaza Cease-Fire Block NYC Tunnel, Bridges |url=https://www.commondreams.org/news/activists-block-manhattan-gaza |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=www.commondreams.org |language=en}}</ref>
WAWOG protested the ''New York Times'' again on February 29 following the release of their article, "[[Screams Without Words]]," which alleged targeted rape and sexual violence by [[Hamas]] on October 7.<ref name=":10">{{Cite web |title=Video: Antiwar Activists Accuse The New York Times of 'Manufacturing Consent' for Genocide in Gaza |url=https://indypendent.org/2024/03/video-activists-accuse-the-new-york-times-of-manufacturing-consent-for-genocide-in-gaza/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=[[The Indypendent]] |language=en-US}}</ref> They held a press conference in front of the building holding mock-biographies of ''New York Times'' authors.<ref name=":10" /> WAWOG called to the BDS movement, requesting that supporters follow BDU (Boycott, Divest, and Unsubscribe) from the ''Times.''<ref name=":10" />
On March 14, WAWOG attempted to take the ''New York Times'' out of circulation for an entire day.<ref name=":11">{{Cite web |date=2024-03-14 |title=Pro-Palestine Activists Block NY Times Delivery Trucks: 'We're Trying to Take the Times Out of Circulation for a Day' – Hell Gate |url=https://hellgatenyc.com/pro-palestine-activists-block-ny-times-delivery-trucks |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=hellgatenyc.com |language=en}}</ref> According to an activist at the blockade, the group was trying to take the ''Times'' out of circulation because, <blockquote>"People view it as this repository of objective knowledge, but it's actually at the forefront of manufacturing consent for this war. We want to challenge that, and create a vacuum where other things are possible."<ref name=":11" /> </blockquote>WAWOG members used PVC pipes and chains to link their arms more tightly.<ref name=":12">{{Cite web |title=Protests and Parody Paper Decry New York Times' Pro-Israel Bias in Gaza Coverage |url=https://www.commondreams.org/news/journalism-gaza |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=www.commondreams.org |language=en}}</ref> The protesters were pressured to leave by NYPD's [[New York City Police Department Strategic Response Group|Strategic Response Group]] at 3&nbsp;am, and the paper's distribution was ultimately not disrupted for the day.<ref name=":11" /><ref name=":12" />
Also on March 14, WAWOG members distributed their publication, ''The New York War Crimes'', outside of ''The New York Times'' to other people who supported the cause.<ref name=":12" /> NYPD arrested 124 people at the protest.<ref name=":12" /> WAWOG's website, ''The New York War Crimes'', also launched that day.<ref name=":12" /> A detailed historical analysis, ''The New York Times vs. History,'' was simultaneously published online. The report reviewed the ''New York Times''’ archive to reveal a record of support for American wars on foreign soil, support for right-wing dictatorships, and U.S.-backed regime-change.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The New York War Crimes {{!}} "All the Consent That's Fit to Manufacture" |url=https://newyorkwarcrimes.com/ |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=newyorkwarcrimes.com |language=en}}</ref> Archives included coverage of Iran in 1953, Guatemala in 1954, Brazil in 1964,  Iraq in 2003, Libya in 2011, Venezuela and Bolivia in 2019, and Cuba in 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=The New York War Crimes {{!}} "All the Consent That's Fit to Manufacture" |url=https://newyorkwarcrimes.com/ |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=newyorkwarcrimes.com |language=en}}</ref>
=== Los Angeles ===
WAWOG Los Angeles held a vigil for slain Palestinian writers and journalists on January 18, 2024.<ref name=":7" />
On February 2, 2024, WAWOG protested a [[PEN America]] event featuring [[Mayim Bialik]], who supports Israel and does not support the ceasefire movement.<ref name=":6">{{Cite web |date=2024-02-02 |title=Palestinian-American writer Randa Jarrar was dragged out of a PEN event. |url=https://lithub.com/palestinian-american-writer-randa-jarrar-was-dragged-out-of-a-pen-event/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=Literary Hub |language=en-US}}</ref> WAWOG turned on a speaker and played the names of 13 Palestinian writers and poets killed by the [[Israel Defense Forces|IDF]] in the war.<ref name=":6" /> The Palestinian-American writer [[Randa Jarrar]] was removed by security after refusing to leave.<ref name=":6" /> WAWOG members signed an open letter to PEN America condemning the hosting of Bialik as well as Jarrar's removal.<ref name=":8">{{Cite web |title=Open Letter Demands PEN Statement, Action on Palestine |url=https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/newsbrief/index.html?record=4506 |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=PublishersWeekly.com |language=en}}</ref>
[[Film Workers for Palestine]], [[SAG-AFTRA Members for Ceasefire]], and WAWOG held a protest of the [[Academy Awards|Oscars]] on March 10, 2024.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Piña |first=Christy |date=2024-03-09 |title=Free Palestine March Set for Los Angeles Ahead of Oscars: "No Awards During a Genocide" |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/free-palestine-march-oscars-los-angeles-1235847420/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref>
=== Toronto ===
On March 26, 2024, WAWOG Toronto joined with Film Workers for Palestine, Artists Against Artwashing, and CanLit Responds to denounce [[Scotiabank]] for having significant investments in [[Elbit Systems]], an Israeli weapons manufacturer.<ref name=":13">{{Cite web |date=2024-04-04 |title=Canadian writers call on Scotiabank to divest from Israeli arms manufacturer. |url=https://lithub.com/canadian-writers-call-on-scotiabank-to-divest-from-israeli-arms-manufacturer/ |access-date=2024-04-05 |website=Literary Hub |language=en-US}}</ref> The campaign they created was called No Arms in the Arts, which pushed for Canadian arts awards to divest from Scotiabank.<ref name=":13" />
== ''The New York War Crimes'' ==
{{Main|The New York (War) Crimes}}
WAWOG operates a website titled ''The New York War Crimes'' that has printed the following issues:
* Print issue Vol. I . . . No. 1: CEASEFIRE NOW! Honoring Gaza’s dead — and fighting for the living (November 9, 2023)<ref>{{Cite web |title=The New York War Crimes {{!}} "All the Consent That's Fit to Manufacture" |url=https://newyorkwarcrimes.com/ |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=newyorkwarcrimes.com |language=en}}</ref>
* Print issue Vol. I . . . No. 2: AS DEATH MOUNTS, STILL NO CEASEFIRE (November 16, 2023)<ref>{{Cite web |title=The New York War Crimes {{!}} "All the Consent That's Fit to Manufacture" |url=https://newyorkwarcrimes.com/ |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=newyorkwarcrimes.com |language=en}}</ref>
* Print issue Vol. I . . . No. 3: ''IN USA, SUPPORT FOR GENOCIDE IS STILL STRONG'' (November 23, 2023)<ref>{{Cite web |title=The New York War Crimes {{!}} "All the Consent That's Fit to Manufacture" |url=https://newyorkwarcrimes.com/ |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=newyorkwarcrimes.com |language=en}}</ref>
* Print issue Vol. I . . . No. 4: ''MEDIA MANUFACTURES CONSENT FOR GENOCIDE'' (January 12, 2024)<ref>{{Cite web |title=The New York War Crimes {{!}} "All the Consent That's Fit to Manufacture" |url=https://newyorkwarcrimes.com/ |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=newyorkwarcrimes.com |language=en}}</ref>
* Print issue Vol. I . . . No. 5: ALL FOR ALL, ''“ISRAEL” MUST FALL'' (January 20, 2024)<ref>{{Cite web |title=The New York War Crimes {{!}} "All the Consent That's Fit to Manufacture" |url=https://newyorkwarcrimes.com/ |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=newyorkwarcrimes.com |language=en}}</ref>
* Print issue Vol. II . . . No. 6: STOP THE PRESSES! ''FREE PALESTINE!'' (March 14, 2024)<ref>{{Cite web |title=The New York War Crimes {{!}} "All the Consent That's Fit to Manufacture" |url=https://newyorkwarcrimes.com/ |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=newyorkwarcrimes.com |language=en}}</ref>
* Print issue Vol. II . . . No. 7: WORKERS OF THE WORLD, ''STRIKE FOR PALESTINE!'' (May 1, 2024)<ref>{{Cite web |title=The New York War Crimes {{!}} "All the Consent That's Fit to Manufacture" |url=https://newyorkwarcrimes.com/ |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=newyorkwarcrimes.com |language=en}}</ref>
* Print issue Vol. II . . . No. 9: ''REVOLUTION AND RESISTANCE UNTIL LIBERATION AND RETURN'' (May 15, 2024)<ref>{{Cite web |title=The New York War Crimes {{!}} "All the Consent That's Fit to Manufacture" |url=https://newyorkwarcrimes.com/ |access-date=2024-05-30 |website=newyorkwarcrimes.com |language=en}}</ref>
== Notable supporters ==
{{div col|colwidth=23em}}
* [[Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah]]<ref name=":8" />
* [[Jami Attenberg]]<ref name=":8" />
* [[Jamel Brinkley]]<ref name=":8" />
* [[Alexander Chee]]<ref name=":8" />
* [[Ashley C. Ford]]<ref name=":8" />
* [[Roxane Gay]]<ref name=":8" />
* [[Nan Goldin]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Greenberger |first=Alex |date=2023-11-09 |title=Nan Goldin Cancels New York Times Project Over Newspaper's 'Complicity with Israel' |url=https://www.artnews.com/art-news/news/nan-goldin-cancels-new-york-times-project-israel-gaza-reporting-1234686306/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=ARTnews.com |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Jazmine Hughes]]<ref>{{Cite web |last=Roe |first=Mike |date=2023-11-03 |title=New York Times Writer Jazmine Hughes Resigns After Opposing Israel-Gaza War |url=https://www.thewrap.com/jazmine-hughes-resigns-israel-gaza-war-new-york-times/ |access-date=2024-04-03 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US}}</ref>
* [[Randa Jarrar]]<ref name=":6"/>
* [[Jamie Lauren Keiles]]<ref name=":5" />
* [[Kiese Laymon]]<ref name=":8" />
* [[Carmen Maria Machado]]<ref name=":8" />
* [[George R. R. Martin|George R.R. Martin]]<ref name=":02" />
* [[Daniel José Older]]<ref name=":8" />
* [[Morgan Parker (writer)|Morgan Parker]]<ref name=":8" />
* [[Deesha Philyaw]]<ref name=":8" />
* [[Tommy Pico]]<ref name=":8" />
* [[Susan Sarandon]]<ref name=":4" />
* [[Michelle Tea]]<ref name=":8" />
* [[Jia Tolentino]]<ref name=":02" />
* [[Ocean Vuong]]<ref name=":02" />
* [[Elissa Washuta]]<ref name=":8" />
* [[Lidia Yuknavitch]]<ref name=":8" />
{{div col end}}
== See also ==
* [[Jewish Voice for Peace]]
* [[List of The New York Times controversies|List of ''The New York Times'' controversies]]
* [[Students for Justice in Palestine]]
* [[Within Our Lifetime]]
== References ==
<references />{{Anti-war|state=collapsed}}
[[Category:Anti-Zionist organizations]]
[[Category:Israel–Hamas war protests in the United States]]
[[Category:Arts organizations established in 2023]]
[[Category:Peace organizations based in the United States]]
[[Category:Activism in the United States]]
[[Category:American anti-war activists]]