Excerpt:
The PEN American Center stood its ground on Tuesday and presented satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo with an honorary award, even though their decision had already caused many writers to boycott the gala.
Charlie Hebdo's Editor in Chief Gerard Biard and film critic Jean-Baptiste Thoret were in New York to receive the award to a standing ovation from the crowd.
Biard told the crowd that he was "very proud" to accept the award, and urged others to espouse the magazine's values in support of freedom of conscience.