Dan Gordon, left, speaking about resigning from the WGA in a video interview on Oct. 25, 2023. Photo: Screenshot

Longtime Hollywood producer, writer, and director Dan Gordon resigned on Tuesday from the Writer’s Guild of America (WGA) — the union representing writers in film, television, radio, and other forms of media — over its silence on the Hamas atrocities carried out against Israeli civilians earlier this month, which took the lives of more than 1,400 people.

The screenwriter of The Hurricane, who is Jewish, was raised in both California and Israel, and was a member of the union for 56 years. He received his membership card in 1967 at the age of 20, making him the youngest screenwriter in the US to join the WGA. Gordon went to high school in Israel and served in the Israel Defense Forces during the Yom Kippur War. He married in Israel, and two of his three sons were born in the Jewish state.

“I have nothing but contempt for the leadership of the Writer’s Guild,” Gordon said in a video interview on Wednesday, talking about his decision to leave WGA West. “The contempt I feel for the guild knows no bounds.”

The writer of four feature films this year, including Irena’s Vow, noted that the guild had previously spoken up in support of the Black Lives Matter and #MeToo movements, but “when it comes to the atrocities committed against Jews, somehow, it could not find the words. Interesting when a writer can’t find words.”

He also pointed out that while the Screen Actor’s Guild (SAG-AFTRA) and Directors Guild of America (DGA), the latter of which Gordon is also a member, issued a strong and immediate condemnation of the Hamas attacks that took place on Oct. 7, the WGA remained silent. Hundreds of writers even called on the WGA in an open letter earlier this month to make a statement and denounce the Gaza-based terrorist group, but the guild said nothing in response.

“The silence spoke volumes,” Gordon said, before describing how he would be disgusted to remain a member of the guild. He said he felt “revulsion” regarding “the moral bankruptcy of people who could not bring themselves to condemn the greatest mass murder of Jews since the Holocaust.”

WGA West explained in a lengthy statement to its members on Tuesday that it generally speaks out about domestic issues related to social justice or freedom of speech, but does not take a stance on international tragedies.

“We did not, for example, make a comment after Russia invaded Ukraine, nor on terrorist attacks in Somalia, Pakistan, or elsewhere. It can be an imprecise science for a labor union to pick and choose where it weighs in on both domestic and world affairs,” the guild said. “We are American labor leaders, aware of our limitations and humbled by the magnitude of this conflict. However, we understand this has caused tremendous pain and for that we are truly sorry.”

Gordon said the WGA’s statement lacks “any moral backbone” for still not condemning Hamas or calling for the release of the more than 200 people kidnapped by the Palestinian terrorist organization.

Gordon sent a letter to WGA West resigning from the union and committing to “financial core” status. He is no longer a member of the WGA and cannot vote in WGA elections, participate in awards, or take part in other aspects of membership. However, while paying a reduced dues rate he can work in Hollywood like other guild members.

“I am resigning my membership not because I wish to work on non union projects nor cross any picket line, but because I no longer wish to be a fellow traveler with those who hide behind the fetid veil of a morally bankrupt wokeism and stand silent in the face of unadulterated evil,” Gordan wrote.