Free Expression & the War Between Israel and Hamas
PEN America joins the literary community in sorrow and outrage over the war and humanitarian crisis in Israel and Gaza. We mourn the immense loss of Palestinian lives, including authors, poets, artists, and journalists, and the destruction of museums, libraries, and mosques that contribute to a vibrant cultural community. We share the ongoing anguish of Israelis whose families and friends have been killed or taken hostage, and who are living under threat. We have called for an immediate ceasefire and release of the hostages — an agreement that can pave the way for urgent humanitarian access and lasting peace. We have also documented and advocated on behalf of individual writers who have been jailed, detained or otherwise targeted as a result of expressing themselves amid the conflict, including in our annual Freedom to Write Index. We call on all parties in the region and around the world to uphold their obligations to safeguard free expression, protect writers and defend open discourse.
Our work on the war in Gaza has focused on three areas: advocacy, support for writers, and convening writers and members of the public for dialogue and exchange. We speak out frequently on a wide range of topics related to the war and its reverberations for free expression. We make available direct, confidential assistance to individual Palestinian writers and artists. Earlier this year we established a dedicated Emergency Assistance Fund through the Netherlands-based PEN Emergency Fund for distribution to Palestinian writers in need. We are currently building on those efforts to afford more and faster help to writers.
EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE FOR PALESTINIAN WRITERS
PEN America is working with the PEN Emergency Fund to provide direct financial assistance to Palestinian writers. PEN America has launched a dedicated fund initially set at $100,000, to be administered by the PEN Emergency Fund, to support writers affected by the war. This is in addition to PEN America’s existing small aid fund available to writers in all geographies who are in dire need. The emergency fund is available to provide short-term assistance to writers, and grants can be used to cover basic expenses, housing, travel, medical and mental health costs, and other related expenses. Learn more about the PEN Emergency Fund here.
LETTER TO THE COMMUNITY FROM PEN AMERICA
We respect those who have communicated with us, publicly and privately, about the current Gaza war, and recognize the profound stakes and pain involved. In light of recent feedback and criticism, we wrote this letter to the community with the hope of moving forward together with as many writers as possible, in service of our mission. Read more >>
PEN America Statements
- In Preparing for Protests, Are Campuses Going Too Far? (08/28/2024)
- PEN America Condemns Arrest of Journalist for Documenting Vandalism Over Gaza Conflict (08/07/2024)
- Deaths of Two Al Jazeera Journalists in Gaza Missile Strike Raises Fears Press is Being Targeted Deliberately (07/31/2024)
- PEN America Signs Joint Letter to President Biden in Advance of Meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu (07/22/24)
- Israeli Government Must Reject Bill Potentially Banning Foreign News Networks (06/28/24)
- Alarm Over Attacks on Journalists in Jerusalem Day Flag March in Israel (06/07/24)
- Firing of Adjunct Instructor at DePaul University Over Use of Words About Palestine Violates Academic Freedom (06/05/24)
- PEN America Alarmed by Images of Israeli Soldiers with Burning Books (05/24/24)
- Disproportionate Use of Force Against Peaceful Student Protesters in Florida Cannot Stand, Coalition Says (05/22/24)
- PEN America Signs Onto Historical Association Statement Voicing Concern Over Use of Force Against Campus Protesters (05/07/24)
- Free Speech Organizations Criticize Florida Colleges and Universities’ Response to Student Protests (05/03/24)
- Request by Columbia U President for NYPD to Remain on Campus Through May 17 is Alarming (05/01/24)
- Bill Intended to Combat Antisemitism Could Also Undermine Free Speech, Academic Freedom and Legitimate Political Discourse (05/01/24)
- Growing Reports of Use of Force Against Student Protests Are Deeply Alarming (04/29/24)
- Statement by PEN America on Campus Protests (04/24/24)
- A Letter from the President of PEN America: American Authors Demand a Second Draft of PEN America, and the World in Which We Write (04/18/24)
- USC Decision to Cancel Valedictorian’s Graduation Speech Amounts to “Heckler’s Veto” (04/16/24)
- Banning Al Jazeera is a Clear Violation of Free Expression and Press Freedom (04/03/24)
- PEN America Letter to the Community (03/20/24)
- PEN America Condemns Reported Assault and Arrest of Al Jazeera Correspondent by the Israeli Military (03/19/24)
- PEN America Statement on the Retraction of an Essay in Guernica Magazine (03/12/24)
- Suspension of Texas Tech Professor Raises Questions About Due Process and Academic Freedom (03/08/24)
- PEN America Condemns UC Berkeley Protests that Turned Violent, with Reported Antisemitic Bigotry (02/29/24)
- Artists at Risk Connection (ARC) Mourns the Death of Palestinian Artist Fathi Ghaben (02/29/24)
- “Free Expression in a Time of War” a statement from PEN America (02/21/24)
- PEN America Response to Free Speech Bill Pending in Israeli Knesset (02/16/24)
- Quiet Rewrite of Barnard College Policy Appears to be an Effort to Suppress Speech (02/08/24)
- PEN America Release on the War in Israel and Gaza (02/07/24)
- PEN America Statement on the Disruption of a Los Angeles Book Event by Protests (02/02/24)
- New Policies at American University Undermine Free Expression on Campus (01/26/24)
- Cancellation of Samia Halaby Exhibition at Indiana University Represents “An Alarming Affront to Free Expression,” (01/12/24)
- Call for Indiana University to Reinstate Professor After Suspension for Event with Israeli-American Writer-Activist (01/12/24)
- Even in Times of War, Art Must Not be Canceled (12/21/23)
- Israeli and Palestinian Writers and Artists: The Toll of War
- PEN America Responds to Rutgers University Decision to Suspend Pro-Palestinian Student Group (12/15/23)
- PEN America Responds to Gov. Hochul Letter to Public Colleges (12/15/23)
- PEN America Mourns the Death of Palestinian Writer Refaat Alareer (12/14/23)
- Suspensions of Students for Justice in Palestine Chapters Raise Questions and Concerns about Chilled Campus Environments (12/08/23)
- Crisis of Polarization and Free Speech Over Israel and Hamas War Will be Examined at Annual General Meeting (12/07/23)
- PEN America: Calls for Genocide Have No Place in Reasoned Campus DIscourse (12/07/23)
- PEN America: “Gravely Alarmed” by Destruction and Damage to Hundreds of Culture and Educational Sites in Gaza (12/06/23)
- PEN America Remains Concerned Over Academic Freedom at University of Arizona, Related to Suspension of Two Instructors, Despite Their Reinstatement (12/04/23)
- Cancelled Film on Israel Deprives a NY Campus of Important Conversation Amid Crisis (11/17/23)
- Decision by University of Southern California to Bar Professor from Teaching This Semester for Anti-Hamas Remarks is a “Shocking Overreaction”
- PEN America Calls on Israeli Government to Rescind Inflammatory Rhetoric, Threats Against Palestinian Journalists (11/15/23)
- Rising Anti-Muslim and Anti-Arab Hate on Campus (11/10/23)
- PEN Joins Call to Clarify Basis for Detention of Author Ahed Tamimi (11/08/23)
- Brandeis U Revokes Recognition of Student Palestine Group Without Citing Any Violations of Policies (11/08/23)
- Handling Rising Antisemitism on Campus (10/31/23)
- Citing Grave Free Speech Concerns, PEN America Rejects Florida Campus Ban on Students for Justice in Palestine (10/26/23)
- Statement on Canceling Cultural Events Amid War (10/23/23)
- Amid Campus Protests Over Israel-Hamas War, Students Should Not Face Punishment for Speaking Out (10/17/23)
- Palestinian People and Culture Under Threat from Israel’s Retaliatory Attacks (10/17/23)
- PEN America Calls on LitProm to Reconsider Postponement of Shibli Award (10/16/23)
- Guidance on Campus Free Speech, Amid Controversies and Protests Related to Israel and Gaza (10/13/23)
- Doxxing of College Students Is a Threat to Free Expression (10/13/23)
- PEN America Deplores Attack Against Israeli Civilians (10/10/23)
PEN America Town Hall 2023: Conversation Amid Crisis
This panel discussion examines not the conflict in the Middle East per se, but rather its ripple effects on the cultural, academic, and literary ecosystem back home. Through this conversation, we endeavor to cultivate a space where writers and thinkers can navigate fraught topics by demonstrating a willingness to listen, engage, learn, and even narrow differences if possible. We hear from a panel of experts, including award-winning fiction and nonfiction writer Zaina Arafat; journalist and translator Yair Rosenberg; journalist, editor, and cultural critic Judith Shulevitz; writer and former Director of the Arab-Israeli Project at the International Crisis Group Nathan Thrall; and author, lawyer, and equity advocate Kenji Yoshino, in conversation with PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel.
PEN America Webinar on Free Speech vs Hate Speech on College Campuses
In this webinar PEN America’s CEO Suzanne Nossel along with Sy Sims Managing Director of US Free Expression Programs Jonathan Friedman and Program Manager Niko Perez lead a session to discuss the legal framework of the First Amendment, principles of free speech and academic freedom, and unprotected speech such as harassment or threats. This webinar was conceived in response to protests on campuses regarding the war in Gaza and is designed to share PEN America’s expertise on how campuses can best address the challenges of robust protections for free speech while also supporting inclusive environments.