(NEW YORK)—PEN America issued the statement below today on developments following the police raid on The Marion County Record newspaper in Kansas from Shannon Jankowski, program director, Journalism and Disinformation:
“The withdrawal of a search warrant against The Marion County Record and the return of seized devices after a raid by law enforcement is a first step toward accountability in this unconscionable breach of press freedom. While withdrawing the search warrant is the correct step, Marion County tragically cannot undo the death of the newspaper’s 98-year-old co-owner Joan Meyer, who collapsed and died after police rifled through papers and seized materials from her home. Nor can law enforcement reverse the damage that has resulted to the newspaper staff, its confidential sources, and the chill on press freedom writ large from the raid. PEN America continues to stand in solidarity with The Record and urges that those responsible for the raid be held to account for violating the newspaper’s rights.”
About PEN America
PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect open expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. To learn more visit PEN.org
Contact: Suzanne Trimel, [email protected], 201-247-5057