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People tweeted their displeasure to Atwood, who actively defended signing the letter. “I am against secret accusations and secret trials,” she said in one tweet. “Better process needed.”

Some writers removed their names from the open letter under pressure, while others added their names. An “open counter-letter” about the Galloway casesaid Canadian writers and scholars were “shocked and appalled by the letter signed by many prominent Canadian writers defending Steven Galloway” and called on it to be withdrawn “based on a recognition of the realities of rape culture.” The petition collected more than 400 signatures.

Author Joseph Boyden, who is one of the organizers of the UBC Accountable open letter, on Wednesday posted an invitation to the letter signers to clarify their positions. A number of writershad made statements by the end of the day.

“First of all I know that there is not a person on this list that hasn’t paid some price for taking this stand with us,” Boyden said. “We have heard from a number of you already about receiving backlash on social media, by email and in some cases in person and from those closest to you.”

Boyden went on to say it was important to maintain his commitment to the open letter.

“The truth is that UBC’s handling of this case (and the resulting discourse) has the power to change what it means to be a writer and teacher in Canada,” he said. “By eliminating the emotion that has entangled this situation I’m sure we can all see that no teacher or writer in this country should ever be tried in the court of public opinion on accusations that are not even defined.”