Jazmine Hughes, a staff writer for the New York Times Magazine, has resigned from her role following accusations she made against Israel of systematically exterminating Palestinians, as reported by the New York Post on Saturday.
Hughes' decision to leave the publication was driven by her desire to engage in political activism. The New York Times Magazine confirmed her departure in an email to the New York Post.
Jake Silverstein, a representative of the New York Times Magazine, stated, "While I respect that she has strong convictions, this was a clear violation of The Timess policy on public protest." He further emphasized his support for the policy, citing it as a crucial component of their commitment to independence.
Silverstein also revealed that he and Hughes mutually agreed on her departure due to her inclination towards political activism. He said, "She and I discussed that her desire to stake out this kind of public position and join in public protests isnt compatible with being a journalist at The Times, and we both came to the conclusion that she should resign."
Earlier this week, Hughes endorsed a letter accusing Israel of apartheid and attributing the responsibility for the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks to the Jewish state. The letter, titled "Writers Against the War on Gaza," criticized the New York Times for publishing an editorial supporting Israel's right to self-defense.
The letter stated, "We condemn those in our industries who continue to enable apartheid and genocide. We cannot write a free Palestine into existence, but together we must do all we possibly can to reject narratives that soothe Western complicity in ethnic cleansing."
Hughes has previously publicly criticized her former employer. Earlier this year, she signed a letter criticizing the publication's coverage of transgender issues.
In related news, Jamie Lauren Keiles, a contributing writer to the magazine, also announced her departure this week, stating that the publication was "taking more from me than giving to me."
An anonymous newsroom source applauded the decision, arguing that writers should keep their political views private. The source told the New York Post, "Theres no question management made the right call here. And in the past, that hasnt always happened with these cases. But now, hopefully this is a clear message to the newsroom that if you want to advocate for a political cause or attack the work of your colleagues, theres the door."
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