USA: Cuban Writers in Exile condemn burning of Cuban-American author’s books

Cuban-American author Jennine Capó Crucet

The PEN Club of Cuban Writers in Exile strongly condemns the sad and shameful burning of books written by Cuban-American author Jennine Capó Crucet by a group of students during her presentation at Georgia Southern University on October 9th.

This book burning is a sad reminder of book burnings carried out by communists and fascists in several European cities during the 1930s, especially the one carried out by the Nazis on May 10, 1933 at the Bebelplatz in Berlin, Germany.

Universities are temples of knowledge and wisdom, and freedom of expression, regardless of ideological tendency, serving as the foundation upon which diverse ideas and opinions can be discussed openly and freely.

We ask officials at Georgia Southern University to investigate this incident to ensure that a similar scene of xenophobia and intolerance is not repeated on its campus.

For the PEN Club of Cuban Writers in Exile

José A. Albertini
President

Luis de la Paz
Secretary

Matilde Álvarez
Women Writers Committee

Daniel I. Pedreira
Writers in Prison Committee