LONDON -- A group of cartoonists are creating a special book as a tribute to the Charlie Hebdo victims and a celebration of free speech.
English PEN, the founding centre of a worldwide writers' association, and the Professional Cartoonists' Organisation have joined forces to create a new publication entitled Draw The Line Here.
Edited by journalist and author Libby Purves, the book will feature the work of a host of cartoonists, illustrators and graphic designers.
The Independent's Dave Brown and The Guardian's Martin Rowson are both submitting work, as are cartoonists Andrew Birch and Jeremy Banx.
The book is available on their Crowdshed page, where supporters can donate any amount from £1 upward or purchase a book for £15. A personalised book costs £30.
Half of the proceeds will go toward funds supporting the families of the murdered cartoonists and their colleagues. The other half will go toward English PEN, which promotes and defends freedom of expression around the world.
"This symbol of the pen being mightier than the gun has inspired us all," they say. "Draw The Line Here has been set up to let us all contribute to the creation and publication of a book that celebrates the timeless art so brilliantly presented by Charlie Hebdo, and memorialize those who paid with their lives for what they believed in."
"The leader cartoon is like the rest of the comment section," Brown said recently.
"It’s a personal viewpoint. It needs to be more than just a joke. I think the only way to do the job properly is to have that involvement with news, to be angry about things."
