As a candidate, President Donald Trump ran on a platform that was explicitly hostile to a free press, dismissive of the voices of minority populations, and indifferent to fact-based discourse. Today, his Administration is transforming that platform into concrete policies that threaten to close off artistic expression, muzzle the press, and silence the diverse voices that are part of America’s cultural fabric. Meanwhile, the United States is facing a new wave of hate speech, “trolling,” and online and in-person harassment, with writers often being the first to be targeted. PEN America is defending not only our First Amendment, but the importance of free and open expression and informed debate in response to efforts to undermine these liberties. PEN America is also standing up against hate speech and false claims, using the power of the word to uphold civic discourse and respect for the truth.