Speaking Monday night before hundreds gathered for PEN America's annual gala at the American Museum of Natural History, the "Harry Potter" creator noted that she opposed a recent petition calling for banning the presumptive Republican presidential nominee from entering the United Kingdom, saying such actions endanger everyone's rights.
PEN, the literary and human rights organization, honored advocates for speech and prisoners of censorship worldwide, from Egypt to Flint, Michigan.
Two prominent Flint activists, LeeAnne Walters and Dr. Mona Hanna-Attisha, received the PEN/Toni and James C. Goodale Freedom of Expression Courage Award for their efforts in exposing the deadly levels of lead in the water.
Walters is a mother of four who became alarmed when her kids fell ill and Dr. Hanna-Attisha is a pediatrician and educator who conducted studies of blood lead levels in Flint's children.
Pietsch, whose battles have included censorship in China and a standoff in the U.S. with Amazon.com over e-book revenues, urged his peers to "remember to publish wild voices, diverse voices, voices that make us uncomfortable, voices that can open eyes, change minds and last."
