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What began as frustration over rising antisemitism has grown into a coordinated letter-writing movement. Pen Power Australia is mobilising supporters to challenge anti-Israel narratives and demand accountability.

It began with a sentence many people say when they feel frustrated and unheard: “We need to write a letter about these things.” The “things” weren’t vague. They were the steady rise of antisemitic incidents, the mainstreaming of anti-Israel narratives, and public messaging that excuses or elevates extremist ideologies while targeting the Jewish state.

By around May last year, I decided that talking wasn’t enough. If people wanted to respond, it needed to be fast, organised, and repeatable. The idea was straightforward: draft letters about specific incidents or institutional decisions, post a link, and let supporters send them directly. In other words, turn scattered outrage into coordinated civic action.

Challenging Antisemitism Across Institutions

The problem was practical: how do you build something like that from scratch? With a mix of prayer, research, and persistence, the campaign found a solution in an American activist email platform. I contacted Activist Mailer to discuss pricing with the support going further, with the service offered free of charge because the purpose was defending Jewish communities and pushing back against hate. The organiser credits Gary and Wedge at Activist Mailer for making the project viable.

Expectations were initially modest—perhaps a couple of letter campaigns a week, and if 20 or 30 people participated, that would be a win. But the model scaled quickly. The effort has grown into regular weekly actions, typically five to ten campaigns, with participation ranging from dozens to hundreds of letters per push. What started as a helpful side project has become a full-time commitment for the organiser.

The campaign’s targets reflect a key insight: antisemitism and anti-Israel activism aren’t only political—they’re cultural and institutional. Pen Power Australia writes to government departments across all three tiers, mainstream media, and non-government organisations. It also directs letters to publishers, entertainment venues, music promoters, professional bodies, and companies whose decisions shape public norms. The point is to challenge discriminatory rhetoric and double standards wherever they appear, not just where they’re easiest to spot.

Proven Results; Volunteers Wanted

I can say the campaigns have already delivered measurable results. One major effort involved nearly 3,000 letters calling for a Royal Commission into the Bondi terror attacks, assisted by like-minded groups in the United Kingdom and the United States. Over a six-month period, the organiser reports that nearly 18,000 letters were sent in total—enough volume to force attention and generate follow-up.

Other wins show that public accountability works. We had an instance where an antisemitic company ambassador was removed from a role following hate speech concerns. Infected Mushroom concerts that were to be cancelled were transferred to a new venue. As BDS organising has increased in Australia, Pen Power Australia says it has confronted those efforts directly, reporting positive responses from local government when presented with clear concerns about the BDS movement.

Now we are looking to grow. Pen Power Australia is seeking volunteers to help with research and letter drafting. This doesn’t require a huge commitment—just a couple of hours every fortnight can help sustain momentum.

To get involved, contact me at penpoweraustralia@outlook.com or join the WhatsApp group to send emails.

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Image courtesy of Adobe.