Dozens of academics, journalists blast 'cancel culture' critics who signed Harper's open letter
Many of Harper's signatories are "white, wealthy, and endowed with massive platforms," Friday's letter said.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}A long list of journalism professionals and academics issued a lengthy statement denouncing an open letter that Harper's Magazine published in opposition to what its signatories have described as a stifling environment for free speech.
Harper's initial letter from Tuesday caused a media uproar upon its publication -- and Friday's response references several recent journalism controversies involving race and gender.
For example, many Black and Brown employees at The New York Times were displeased with an op-ed written by Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., that called for military intervention against U.S citizens during the Black Lives Matter protests. James Bennet, the newspaper's editorial page editor, resigned amid the fallout. "Harry Potter" author J.K. Rowling has also faced a backlash for defending her views on transgender people.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Published in The Objective, Friday's letter took issue with the privilege of Harper's signatories and attempted a point-by-point refutation of many of the statements they made.
LIBERAL WRITERS, ACTIVISTS SIGN OPEN LETTER CALLING TO END 'CANCEL CULTURE'
"The signatories, many of them white, wealthy, and endowed with massive platforms, argue that they are afraid of being silenced, that so-called cancel culture is out of control, and that they fear for their jobs and free exchange of ideas, even as they speak from one of the most prestigious magazines in the country," the signatories, which included members of major outlets and universities, said.
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Some of the signatories refused to list their names, opting only to identify their outlets out of fear of reprisal.
The letter asserts that Harper's signatories benefit from the type of free speech that they advocated, and suggests a blindness to the reality that minorities in the profession face.
"While the Harper’s letter is couched in the events of the last few weeks, it doesn’t exist in a vacuum. It is actively informed by the actions of its writers, many of whom have championed the free market of ideas, but actively ensured that it is free only for them," Friday's letter read.
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"It’s ironic that the letter gives highly sought-out space to some of the most well-paid and visible people in media, academia, and publishing. These are the same people who possess the money and prestige to have their ideas shared in just about any elite publication, outlet, or journal. There will always be a place for them to have their voices heard."
Other media figures offered their support on Twitter. "This is worth your time," tweeted Gimlet Media Head of Content Lydia Polgreen.
{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}Friday's letter deepened tension within the left, where some have argued that prevailing ideas about free speech privilege certain voices over others.
Harper's signatories, which included prominent liberals like feminist Gloria Steinem, contended that attempts at censorship embolden "right-wing demagogues" and squander efforts to achieve justice for minorities.
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{{#rendered}} {{/rendered}}"We refuse any false choice between justice and freedom, which cannot exist without each other. As writers we need a culture that leaves us room for experimentation, risk taking, and even mistakes," the letter reads.