Palestinian writer Randa Jarrar gets dragged out of PEN America event for protesting Zionist speaker

PEN America, an organisation dedicated to championing free speech, kicked out Palestinian American writer Randa Jarrar writer after she disrupted an event that platformed a well-known Zionist celebrity.

In video footage that went viral on social media, Jarrar can be seen being dragged out of the event by force, and as she remained seated on her chair.

The PEN America event in question had Big Bang Theory star Mayim Bialik as a special guest. Bialik is a self-proclaimed Zionist and has been vocal in her opposition of a ceasefire in Gaza.

Before she was dragged out, Jarrar tried to read out names of 13 Palestinian writers in Gaza whom Israeli forces have killed since 7 October.

Jarrar said her protest was possible because of the two speakers she and others managed to sneak in to the event, successfully evading metal detectors.

PEN America has yet to make a public statement about those writers, nor for the 115-plus journalists and 93 academics that have also been killed by Israeli forces since October.