Authors pull books from Giller Prize to protest Scotiabank's investment in Israeli defence contractor
Elana Rabinovitch, executive director of the Scotiabank Giller Prize, says she will maintain her partnership with the bank despite protests from authors, several of whom have withdrawn their works from consideration. over the bank's investment in an Israeli weapons manufacturer. in November 2023 that expressed support for the demonstrators who disrupted the awards ceremony and asked the Giller Prize to advocate for the dropping of charges against them.
I have withdrawn my novel BIRD SUIT from consideration for the 2024 Scotiabank Giller Prize, alongside other authors. We will not let our work be used to aid sponsors actively investing in arms funding and Israel’s genocide of Palestinians. Full letter: https://t.co/1GQbtzastd "To be clear: we will not be content with half-measures," the letter states. "Our goal is to truly win an arts and culture sector free from arms funding. Arts institutions cannot launder their moral reputations with empty statements calling too late for a ceasefire or toothless guarantees that they will support authors' free speech and right to protest."
Giller Prize executive director Elana Rabinovitch said in an emailed statement to CBC that her organization will not cut ties with Scotiabank.