FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
March 15, 2023
Seattle the Only City to Censor Author Medea Benjamin on Nationwide Book Tour about Ukraine
“The complaints waged by a small group of Ukrainians wrongly characterize the book as pro-Russian”
SEATTLE -- Medea Benjamin, co-author of War In Ukraine: Making Sense of a Senseless Conflict, arrived in Seattle to controversy and censorship. She was scheduled for a book event at University Book Store on March 14. The bookstore, which is associated with the University of Washington, canceled her scheduled book tour appearance, telling event organizers they were under pressure from a pro-Ukrainian student group and a few professors from the University of Washington.
Dan Gilman, former President of Veterans For Peace, Seattle Chapter stated, "It's quite obvious that the bookstore caved to political pressure to cancel the talk. Since when is a bookstore unable to deal with a controversial book?"
Mary Paterson, a member of Seattle Anti-War Coalition who has been working with University Book Store on the event, says, “We are very disappointed in the decision of the highly respected University Book Store and then, to make matters worse, the church. We asked for dialogue with those who objected to the events but never received a response.”
After the bookstore cancellation, the local organizers explained their predicament to the University Congregational United Church, where the pastor said he was happy to hold the event. But just hours before the event was to start, the church also canceled. Like the bookstore, they said they did not have staff who could handle any conflict that might arise, even though the organizers had professionals in conflict resolution. (press release regarding initial cancellation by book store)
Coincidentally, Benjamin had an event the night before at Tacoma Community College that was attended by a group of pro-Ukrainians. She gave them ample time to voice their concerns and opinions, and people in attendance engaged in constructive dialogue with each other. The audience applauded the courage of the Ukrainians to come out and express themselves. This is the same type of healthy, respectful conversation that would probably have taken place in Seattle, if the bookstore and church had not succumbed to intimidation.
“The complaints waged by a small group of Ukrainians wrongly characterize the book as pro-Russian,” said Benjamin. “Anyone who reads the book knows that it clearly condemns Russia’s illegal and deadly invasion. In any case, this violation of my free speech by a university-affiliated bookstore and a peace church is shocking and shameful–especially in the liberal city of Seattle.”
Benjamin has been on tour with the book for six months with over 100 successful events in over a dozen different states. This is the first and only time this has happened. “Does Seattle really want to be a city that censors and cancels instead of a city that welcomes healthy, respectful dialogue about such a critical issue as war?,” Benjamin asks.
CLICK HERE FOR VIDEO OF RALLY OUTSIDE BOOK STORE
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