A bucolic county in upstate New York appointed a poet laureate. Why was she fired shortly after?
Summary
Esther Cohen was named the first poet laureate of Greene County, New York, in January 2024. However, six weeks later, the county legislature removed her from the position after they found social media posts they said promoted violence.Key Facts
- Esther Cohen is a poet who bought a house in Greene County, New York, in 1985.
- Greene County is about 120 miles north of New York City and known for its natural beauty.
- Cohen was appointed as the county’s first poet laureate in January 2024.
- Her role was to promote poetry and local literary events, with a $1,000 annual payment.
- After a county legislature meeting, a Republican lawmaker questioned Cohen based on her social media posts.
- The legislature claimed she promoted violence online, specifically referencing posts related to Donald Trump and Zohran Mamdani.
- In April 2024, the legislature voted unanimously to remove her as poet laureate.
- Cohen deleted the posts after learning about the concerns and said she did not intend to promote violence.
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