Pulitzer Prize-winning author Jhumpa Lahiri has declined to accept the 2024 Isamu Noguchi Award from New York City's Noguchi Museum in protest against its new dress code policy, which led to the firing of three employees for wearing keffiyehs, symbols of Palestinian solidarity. The museum's policy prohibits staff from wearing attire that conveys political messages, a move criticized by many as anti-Palestinian. The keffiyeh has become a powerful symbol of Palestinian self-determination, although some view it as supporting extremism. The museum stated it respects Lahiri's decision and aims to uphold inclusivity while advancing Noguchi's legacy. Lahiri has a history of advocating for Palestinian causes and signed a letter supporting campus protests against Israel's actions in Gaza.