Cancellation of the Smithsonian Asian American Literary Festival w/ Chris Tse and Saraid de Silva

Last week, the Smithsonian abruptly cancelled the Asian American Literary Festival, which writers from around the world were set to attend. A delegation of writers from Australia and New Zealand were preparing to travel and had spent public funding on the event, when they received an announcement the festival had been cancelled. No reasoning or plans for postponement have been given, and members of the Australia/New Zealand delegation are left outraged. 

Wire producer Rosetta spoke to New Zealand writers Chris Tse and Saraid de Silva, who were set to attend the festival in the United States, about their plans for the festival and what the cancellation means.