URGENT UPDATE: A bookstore in Montclair, New Jersey, has canceled a scheduled event for Palestinian author Jenan Matari after significant backlash from the local Jewish community. The event, intended for the launch of Matari’s children’s book, Everything Grows in Jiddo’s Garden, was set for Sunday, September 14, 2023, but was scrapped due to alleged safety concerns.
In a statement shared on social media, Watchung Booksellers cited “concerns from our community” as the reason for the cancellation. The notice indicated that the decision was made to protect the safety of both staff and customers. However, Matari claimed that the decision stemmed from harassment directed at the bookstore, which included verbal and physical intimidation from protestors.
“People came into the store and verbally and physically harassed employees,” Matari said in her Instagram post. “They made the staff feel so unsafe and uncomfortable that they canceled my event.” The bookstore has not responded to Matari’s inquiries regarding the specifics of the threats.
The backlash reportedly involved communications labeling Matari as “xenophobic” and “anti-Israel,” with one email alleging she promotes “hate, violence, death, and destruction.” Matari vehemently denied these accusations, stating, “I didn’t appreciate being framed as the danger to the community when it was actually the zionists who put the community in danger.”
Matari’s book explores themes of “displacement, belonging, and an enduring connection to the land,” telling the story of a Palestinian girl and her grandfather who are forced to leave their homeland but maintain ties through gardening. The context of her work is particularly poignant, with over 64,000 Palestinians reported killed in Gaza following the ongoing conflict that escalated in October 2023.
In response to the cancellation, community organizations such as Jewish Voice for Peace of Northern New Jersey and Montclair Quaker Meeting are rallying to support Matari by organizing a separate event. Matari emphasized the impact of such cancellations on children’s understanding of diverse perspectives.
“When you take Palestinian books off your shelves or cancel events with Palestinians, you’re robbing children of the opportunity to learn a very valuable perspective on the world they’re inheriting,” she stated, urging booksellers to reconsider their actions.
As tensions remain high, Montclair’s mayor and police chief have yet to comment on the situation. The controversy surrounding the cancellation underscores the deepening divisions in perceptions of Palestinian narratives amid the ongoing conflict.
Matari is not only an author but also writes a Substack newsletter titled Bridge to Palestine and is a graduate of Rutgers University. Her forthcoming works include Displacement and the Palestinian American Story, set to be published by Penguin Random House.
This developing story highlights the complexities of community interactions around contentious issues and the role of literature in fostering understanding. Stay tuned for updates as this situation unfolds.
