Blog
Filter By:
Advocacy • Analysis • Blog • Commentary • Drama • Essay • Event • Feature • Fiction • Graphic Narrative • Interview • Memoir • News • Obituary • Open Letter • Poetry • Press Release • Profile
Browse By Series:
PEN Poetry Series • Prison Writing • The PEN Ten Interviews • Illustrated PEN • Pen Pals • The PEN World
Browse By Email Subscription:
PEN America News • Educational Censorship News • Works of Justice
Missouri Candidate Turns Flamethrower on LGBTQ-Themed Books
Queer: The Ultimate LGBTQ Guide for Teens by Kathy Belge and Marke Bieschke was among the books torched. Belge said: "LGBTQ teens are vulnerable and antics like this only… More
Six Dangerous Bills That Would Censor Speech on Campuses Across the Country
Here are six terrible higher education bills we’re tracking right now, including one that has already become law. More
PEN America Release on War in Israel and Gaza
PEN America hopes that the multi-national negotiations now underway will lead to a mutually agreed ceasefire, and that an agreement can be reached that will safeguard the people of… More
PEN America Condemns Detention of Iranian Dissident Rapper Vafa Ahmadpour
PEN America’s Artists at Risk Connection (ARC) strongly condemns the arbitrary detention of Iranian rapper Vafa Ahmadpour and calls for his immediate release. More
New Effort by Florida Lawmakers to Undermine Press Freedom is an Attack on Democracy Itself
Katie Blankenship, director of PEN America’s Florida office, said: “These bills seek to instill fear in journalists and their sources, chilling constitutionally protected speech. HB 757 and SB 1780… More
PEN America Condemns Suspended Death Sentence for Australian Writer Jailed in China
PEN America condemns a Chinese court’s decision to give novelist, pro-democracy blogger, and political commentator Yang Hengjun a suspended death sentence. More
The Perilous State of Academic Freedom and Free Expression in Education
PEN America and PEN International jointly submit a contribution to the Special Rapporteur’s report on academic freedom in educational institutions. More
PEN America Speaks: How We Defended and Celebrated Free Expression The Week of January 29
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. More
PEN America Statement on the Disruption of a Los Angeles Book Event by Protests
Allison Lee, Los Angeles director of PEN America said, “PEN America is a big tent organization that values, supports, and creates dialogue, including among writers who hold wide-ranging points… More
‘The Color Purple’ and 30 Other Banned and Challenged Books You Should Be Watching
Dozens of banned and challenged books have been adapted for the screen, and while they aren’t all Oscar nominees, many are as beloved as the books. More