Writers Resist, a new national movement with a stated mission to “defend the ideals of a free, just and compassionate democracy,” is coming to Southampton this weekend.
Free public events to further the movement are planned by a consortium including the MFA in Creative Writing Program at Stony Brook Southampton, Canio’s Books, Poetry Street and PEN America. Similar events are planned around the country.
“The obvious question prompted by the title is: ‘Resist what?’” said Julie Sheehan, the director of the MFA program, in a statement. “Rather than organizing resistance to any one individual or institution, these programs all over the country are aimed at resisting the erosion of the values that make our democracy work: The value of freedom of expression, public education for all, and tolerance in a pluralistic society.”
Writers Resist events on the Stony Brook Southampton campus on Sunday, January 15—the anniversary of the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King’s birth—include a “Teach In” and a “Speak Out” at Chancellors Hall.
The Teach In, from 2:30 to 3:45 p.m., will offer free writer-led workshops, open to the public, both English speaking and Spanish speaking, including children.
MFA in Creative Writing student Afua Ansong will kick it off by advocating for Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, an immigration policy initiated by President Barack Obama’s administration, and talking about why it is important for immigrants to speak out. Author Roger Rosenblatt will speak about the importance of storytelling and bearing witness. Then in workshops, participants will receive help writing about their experiences and perhaps turning their writings into letters to the editor and personal testimonies. RSVP to Julie Sheehan at 631- 996-4421.
Then the Speak Out, beginning at 4 p.m. at Chancellors Hall, will include readings of works highlighting the ideals of democracy, diversity and free expression. A “Twitter storm” will invite members of the audience to tweet lines from the Langston Hughes poem “Let America Be Great Again.” A reception will follow.
Additionally, Canio’s Books in Sag Harbor will host “Spirituality of Resistance” on Saturday, January 14, at 5 p.m. The discussion will feature Chenae Bullock, a Shinnecock tribal member; Engu Michel Dobbs, a Zen Buddhist priest; and the Reverend Kimberly Quinn Johnson of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the South Fork, talking about experiences at Standing Rock, where protesters fought the Dakota Access Pipeline, and other sites of spiritual resistance.
on Jan 10, 2017