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Songwriting Legend Paul Simon to be Honored at PEN America’s Spring Literary Gala in New York City
PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel said: “Paul Simon has inspired fans worldwide with lyrics and songs that entire generations know by heart and can recognize from the very first… More
PEN America Applauds 11th Circuit Court of Appeals Ruling Affirming Injunction of Florida’s Stop WOKE Act
Elly Brinkley, staff attorney with PEN America, said: “We are gratified that the court recognized that government should have no role in deciding how employers can or should limit… More
Free Speech and Other Organizations Urge Florida Lawmakers to Oppose Bill Banning Youth from Social Media
We know social media sites can present significant risks to minors, but the state’s response to such risks should be tailored to minimize harm, not passing measures that violate… More
PEN America Condemns Harsh Sentencing of Grammy-Winning Iranian Singer
PEN America strongly condemns the sentencing of Grammy-winning Iranian singer Shervin Hajipour to three years and eight months in prison. More
PEN America Speaks: How We Defended and Celebrated Free Expression The Week of February 26
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
Three new bills that threaten the freedom to read
Bills fueling book bans and censorship in K-12 schools have proliferated since 2021, and the current legislative session is no exception. More
What We’re Doing about Disinformation in 2024
This moment calls for innovative approaches to tackling false information, and PEN America is ready to support journalists, policy makers, and communities across the country. More
PEN America Calls on S.C. Library to Reverse Restriction on Books about Transgender Subjects
Kasey Meehan, Freedom to Read program director at PEN America, said the board should reverse its decision, which she said was based on “viewpoint discrimination” and noted that book… More
PEN America Condemns UC Berkeley Protests that Turned Violent, with Reported Antisemitic Bigotry
“The violent protests and reports of antisemitic bigotry that led to the event cancellation are abhorrent,” said Jonathan Friedman, director of free expression and education programs at PEN America.… More
PEN America Urges University of Houston to Reschedule Talk by Artist Shahzia Sikander and Show Her Film
PEN America’s senior manager for Free Expression and Education, said: “Artistic freedom is not optional on college campuses. As a public university, the University of Houston has an obligation… More