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South Dakota School District May Physically Destroy its Banned Books, a Move PEN America Says Reflects “Uncompromising Extremism”
Books, words, and works of literature are being seen as so objectionable that they must be obliterated. PEN America calls on the Rapid City Area School Board to resist… More
Decision by University of St. Thomas to Ban Speaker is “Wrongheaded,” Says PEN America
“The decision by the University of St. Thomas to ban Michael Knowles from campus is unfortunate and wrongheaded. Bans and prohibitions on speakers are toxic policies for educational institutions, even… More
The PEN Ten: An Interview with Marwa Helal
I think it’s important to keep playing with this possibility that justice is us, will be us and always has been: our prayers, our songs, our joy, our love. More
Years-Long Campaign of Political Persecution Ends with Harsh Sentences Against Three in Turkey
“These verdicts are the result of a years-long campaign of political persecution that Erdogan’s government has waged against his perceived enemies. From the very beginning, officials have made it… More
PEN America Condemns Harsh Sentencing of Myanmar Filmmaker Ma Aeint, Sentenced to Three Years in Prison with Hard Labor on Baseless Charges
“The sentencing of Ma Aeint to three years imprisonment with hard labor should be understood as part of a broad and deliberate effort by Myanmar’s military officials to silence… More
On World Press Freedom Day, PEN America Welcomes Congressional Resolution to Affirm Critical Role of Journalists
Nadine Farid Johnson, PEN America’s Washington director, said: “Journalists are operating under increasingly oppressive and dangerous conditions, yet their role in upholding the most basic tenets of democracy has… More
Book Banning In Walton County Based On Misleading “Porn In Schools Report” Illustrates Alarming Influence Of Fringe Groups On Educational Censorship
School districts like Walton are letting bigoted, unfounded claims dictate access to literature for all Last week, reports circulated that Walton County School District in Florida decided to remove a… More
Truth-Telling And Its Dire Consequences: PEN America Hosts Conversation with Writers Targeted by Authoritarians Around the Globe
The difficult plight of writers living under authoritarian rule has been well-documented over decades, with some enduring impossibly harsh treatment for their truth-telling and resistance to repression. More
Letter to Hinds County School District Regarding Termination of Assistant Principal Toby Price
PEN America today sent a follow up letter to the officials of the Hinds County School District, concerning the ongoing adjudication of the decision to terminate former Gary Road… More
The PEN Ten: An Interview with Chantal V. Johnson
Get used to slowness, failure, doubt, and fallow periods. Learning how to move through this hard stuff is part of the job. More