India-origin writer Jhumpa Lahiri has refused to just accept an award from the Noguchi Museum in Queens in protest of the museum’s determination to fireplace three staff who wore kaffiyehs in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.
“Jhumpa Lahiri has chosen to withdraw her acceptance of the 2024 Isamu Noguchi Award in response to our up to date gown code coverage,” the museum mentioned.
“We respect her perspective and perceive that this coverage might or might not align with everybody’s views,” it added.
The museum, established by Japanese American designer and sculptor Isamu Noguchi, introduced final month that staff usually are not allowed to put on clothes or equipment displaying “political messages, slogans, or symbols” whereas on responsibility.
This coverage, which doesn’t apply to guests, was carried out after a number of employees members had often worn kaffiyehs—scarves linked to Palestinians—over a number of months, which one dismissed worker described as being for “cultural causes.”
Lahiri was amongst 1000’s of students who signed a letter to school presidents in Might, expressing assist for campus protests in opposition to Israel’s army actions in Gaza, which they described as “unspeakable destruction.”
