“The New Jersey General Assembly approved a measure today to eliminate the post of state poet laureate. The legislation would effectively remove the poet, Amiri Baraka, who had caused a furor with his poem referring to the 9/11 attacks.”
“The 69-to-2 vote sends the bill to Gov. James E. McGreevey, who has vigorously denounced Mr. Baraka for the poem, which suggests that Israelis knew about the terrorist plot in advance.”
“In the uproar that followed Mr. Baraka’s public reading of the poem last fall, Mr. McGreevey asked him to resign. When he refused, and the governor learned that he had no authority to dismiss the poet laureate, legislators gathered dozens of sponsors for the bill abolishing the post.” (from The New York Times)
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