More than 275 authors, poets, and publishers have signed an open letter demanding that the Portland Book Festival end its sponsorship relationships with banks they say are complicit in the global arms trade and, specifically, Israel’s military operations in Gaza.
Published in Literary Hub on July 29, the letter calls on Literary Arts—the nonprofit behind the annual festival—to divest from Bank of America and Wells Fargo, two of its most prominent corporate sponsors. Signatories claim both institutions invest in and profit from companies supplying weapons and technology used in Israel’s attacks on Gaza.
A Call to Align Sponsorships With Festival Values
The letter highlights what its authors view as a contradiction between the progressive and justice-oriented ethos of the literary community and the corporate affiliations of the festival.
“Literary Arts has foregrounded many writers who speak truth to power, from Ursula K. Le Guin to Ta-Nehisi Coates,” the letter states. “In that spirit, we ask you to say ‘no’ to sponsorship from banks that profit from and facilitate the destruction of Palestine… Let us come together to celebrate literature without lending these banks the shine of our collective dreams.”
Among the prominent signatories are award-winning authors such as Naomi Klein, Alexander Chee, Viet Thanh Nguyen, Omar El Akkad, and Callum Angus. Portland-area writers and community members have also signed, including Emilly Prado, Cari Luna, jzl jmz, and journalists Leah Sottile and Katey Trnka. The open letter has garnered support from the owners of local bookstores and literary organizations including Nationale, Always Here Bookstore, and the Independent Publishing Resource Center.
Banks’ Ties to Defense Contractors Cited
The authors point to Bank of America and Wells Fargo’s financial ties to corporations like Raytheon, Elbit Systems, Lockheed Martin, Palantir, and General Dynamics—all of which manufacture weapons or surveillance technology used by Israel in military operations.
Neither Bank of America nor Wells Fargo has responded publicly to the allegations or to media inquiries.
Literary Arts Responds: Sponsorships Keep the Festival Accessible
In a statement shared with local media, Literary Arts acknowledged the concerns raised and emphasized the role sponsorships play in sustaining the Portland Book Festival, which is scheduled to take place on Saturday, Nov. 8.
“We take seriously the values and voices of the literary community,” the statement reads. “Sponsorships enable the Portland Book Festival to remain accessible and community-focused, and we remain committed to listening, engaging respectfully, and supporting diverse perspectives.”
Tension Within the Creative Community
The controversy comes amid broader debates across creative industries about how to engage with the Israel-Palestine conflict, especially as the second anniversary of Hamas’ Oct. 7 attack on Israel approaches. Artists and writers around the country are navigating a deeply polarized conversation on free expression, anti-Semitism, and solidarity with Palestinians.
At a Regina Spektor concert in Portland just days earlier, a small group of audience members heckled the Jewish singer, demanding she say “Free Palestine.” Spektor declined and asked them to leave.
“It Feels Very Corporate Now”
For some signatories, the issue extends beyond political ethics into how the festival feels as a community event. Katey Trnka, a journalist and one of the letter’s signers, says the Portland Book Festival’s increasing corporate presence has changed its character.
“I remember when it came back with the Bank of America sponsorship, and it just felt so different and very corporate,” Trnka recalls. “There were huge long lines to see authors when it used to feel so much more communal.”
For her, the loss of corporate sponsorship might not be a bad thing. “Bank of America’s continued arming of Israel is appalling,” she said. “And I’m a credit union girl anyway.”
Looking Ahead
Ticket sales for the Portland Book Festival begin August 26, and pressure is mounting for Literary Arts to reconsider its funding sources ahead of the event. Whether the nonprofit will revisit its corporate partnerships in light of the open letter remains to be seen.
As the letter concludes, the writers ask Literary Arts to stand with the values of justice and peace that literature so often champions:
“Let us not help the reputations of those who profit off death in the shadows.”
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