Article snippet: PARIS — Sixty-five writers and artists have joined with the advocacy organization PEN America to send an open letter to President Trump, criticizing his executive order banning citizens from seven majority-Muslim countries from entering the United States and urging against further measures that would impair “freedom of movement and the global exchange of arts and ideas.” “Vibrant, open intercultural dialogue is indispensable in the fight against terror and oppression,” the letter reads. “Its restriction is inconsistent with the values of the United States and the freedoms for which it stands.” “Preventing international artists from contributing to American cultural life will not make America safer, and will damage its international prestige and influence,” it adds. The signatories are an international who’s who of the writing world, including Chimamanda Adichie, Martin Amis, J.M. Coetzee, Jonathan Franzen, Siri Hustvedt, Jhumpa Lahiri, Azar Nafisi, Orhan Pamuk, Philip Roth, Alice Sebold, Zadie Smith, Colm Toibin and Anne Tyler. Also attaching their names to the letter are the artist Anish Kapoor, the composer Stephen Sondheim, the musician Rosanne Cash and the photographer Sally Mann. “At a moment like this it’s important for the public that’s weighing out these different cases and policies to recognize the breadth of concern,” said Suzanne Nossel, the executive director of PEN America, which wrote the letter and plans to spread it on social media. The letter not... Link to the full article to read more