In a show of solidarity and support for writers at risk, 17 independent bookshops across the United Kingdom have come together to celebrate Valentine’s Day with a special purpose. These bookshops will host a variety of events under the banner #Valentines4Palestine, aiming to raise funds for the PEN Emergency Fund, specifically earmarked to assist writers in and from Palestine facing dangerous conditions.
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Organisers of the Valentines4Palestine campaign have announced that for every £1,000 collected, the PEN Emergency Fund will be able to provide an emergency grant to a Palestinian writer at risk. These funds are vital for the writers’ safety and freedom, enabling them to continue their work under less dire circumstances.
Independent bookshops and publishers rally for Palestinian writers
The participating bookshops, which span from Exeter’s Bookbag to Paned o Gê in Cardiff, including notable names like Burley Fisher Books in Hackney and the Hastings Bookshop, will offer attendees an array of activities. These include readings and the chance to win prizes donated by generous publishing partners. All proceeds from these events will be channeled through English PEN to the PEN Emergency Fund based in Amsterdam.
Publishers contributing to the cause include respected names such as Fitzcarraldo Editions, Granta Books, and Verso Books, among others. Their donations highlight the community’s commitment to supporting freedom of expression and assisting those who risk everything to tell their stories.
Participating bookstores include:
- Bookbag, Exeter
- bookhaus, Bristol
- BOOKS, Peckham, London
- Brick Lane Bookshop, East London
- Burley Fisher Books, Hackney, London
- The Common Press, Tower Hamlets, London
- The Hastings Bookshop, Hastings
- The Margate Bookshop, Margate
- La Biblioteka, Sheffield
- Maqam Books, London
- Mount Florida Books, Glasgow
- Newham Bookshop, East London
- Pages of Hackney, London
- Paned o Gê, Cardiff
- The Portobello Bookshop, Edinburgh
- Red Hound Books, Walthamstow, London
- Round Table Books, South London
How to support the Valentines4Palestine campaign
The campaign, started by both English PEN and author So Mayer, is also on GoFundMe, where, at the time of writing, £970 has been raised towards this cause. However, it is aiming to raise £5,000. English PEN, the founding centre of PEN International and one of the world’s oldest human rights organisations, has a history of championing the freedom to write and read. It is at the forefront of protecting freedom of expression and supporting persecuted writers globally.
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The PEN Emergency Fund, with its roots in the Netherlands and established in 1971 by writer A. den Doolaard, plays a crucial role in offering financial assistance to persecuted writers and journalists, sometimes enabling them and their families to navigate critical junctures in their lives, such as immediate relocation or urgent medical needs following abuse.
Hence this Valentine’s Day, the Valentines4Palestine campaign not only aims to raise crucial funds but also to shed light on the ongoing challenges faced by Palestinian writers. Through the collective efforts of independent bookshops, publishers, and the community at large, the campaign hopes to show solidarity with those whose voices are at risk of being silenced.