The Israeli-American guild member of 56 years called WGA response “repugnant” and “appalling”
Dan Gordon, a 56-year member of the Writers Guild of America and reserve captain for the Israeli Defense Forces, published an open letter on Tuesday resigning from the union over its lack of statement condemning the Hamas terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7.
“The failure of the Guild’s leadership to issue even the mildest condemnation of the worst massacre of a religious minority in the Middle East since ISIS carried out similar atrocities against the Yezidis is appalling,” Gordon said in his letter. “It is corrosive to me as a writer and repugnant to every fiber of my being as a person of conscience.”
Gordon will assume “financial core” status, or “fi-core” for short. Those with fi-core status cannot vote in guild elections or receive other perks of full members, but still pay reduced dues and work under the same bargaining agreement terms as full members. Those who assume fi-core status cannot reapply as full members.
The open letter was published minutes before WGA West released a new memo to its members apologizing for the “tremendous pain” caused by its decision not to make a statement on the attacks after discussions within the guild’s board.
“When we made the difficult choice not to make a statement, it was not because we are paralyzed by factionalism or masking hateful views. We are American labor leaders, aware of our limitations and humbled by the magnitude of this conflict. However, we understand this has caused tremendous pain and for that we are truly sorry,” read the memo from WGA West President Meredith Stiehm and guild leadership.
