PEN America works tirelessly to defend free expression, support persecuted writers, and promote literary culture. Here are some of the latest ways PEN America is speaking out.
- PEN America expressed alarm over a dangerous bill that passed in the House of Representatives on Nov. 21 that allows for a unilateral determination to revoke the tax-exempt status of any 501c3 organization by designating them as supporting terrorism.
- PEN America condemned the decision of Florida state universities and colleges to cut ties with seven “countries of concern” in compliance with a 2023 law. This prevents agreements and collaboration between China, Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, Venezuela and Syria, including grants, study abroad, and research.
- PEN America called on the U.S. government to pressure Egypt to release blogger, writer, and pro-democracy activist, Alaa Abd El-Fattah, as he continues to be held even after serving his sentence.
- PEN America expressed concern over the news that prominent Dutch punisher, Veen Bosch & Keuning, might use Artificial Intelligence, to translate some of its books into English. “Culture cannot be automated without causing harm to literature and global culture. We urge them to reconsider their decision,” the statement said.
- In this week’s Facts Forward interview, Matt Ewalt, senior director of events and live journalism at the Texas Tribune, discussed bringing journalism to people in the form of events to help combat disinformation. “we’re giving people a kind of agency,” he said, in conversation with Kurt Sampsel, senior program manager of disinformation and community management at PEN America.
- In a new PEN Ten, Inês Viegas Oliveira and translator Rosa Churcher Clarke discussed their latest book, The Duel: A Story About Peace. In conversation with Valentine Sargent, Communications and Editorial Assistant, Artists at Risk Connection they talked about navigating text and image, and turning anger into forgiveness.
- As the country undergoes a transition, this is what we, the PEN America staff, are reading. Take a look at our recommendations and head on over to our Bookshop to get your copies.
