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PEN America Condemns New Conviction of Iranian Dissident Rapper Toomaj Salehi
The re-arrest of Iranian rapper Toomaj Salehi and his severe sentence is part of a calculated effort to suppress dissenting voices, illustrating a broader and alarming crackdown on the… More
U of Wisconsin Should Not Punish Former Chancellor on Faculty for Private Speech
Kristen Shahverdian, senior manager of free expression and education at PEN America, said: “Professors are allowed to have private lives – and private speech. While a Board of Regents… More
Nearly 700 books, including celebrity bestsellers, banned in Orange County, Florida
Nearly 700 books, including recent bestsellers by Jon Stewart and Amy Poehler and classics by Maya Angelou, Ovid, and Marcel Proust, were removed from classrooms in Orange County, Florida,… More
Vietnamese Journalist Le Huu Minh Tuan Must be Released Immediately and Receive Urgent Medical Attention
PEN America expresses profound concern for Le Huu Minh Tuan, an editor, and member of the Independent Journalists Association of Vietnam. More
PEN America Speaks: How We Defended and Celebrated Free Expression The Week of December 18
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
10 Writers on Writing: PEN America Interviews
PEN America has been in conversation with authors, poets, and other artists from its inception. This holiday season, we are sharing 12 pieces of writing advice. More
PEN America Submits Comment to Florida Board of Governors on Policy that “Will Chill Speech of Faculty and Students”
SB 266 is “contrary to our core First Amendment liberties and values of academic freedom.” More
Even in Times of War, Art Must Not be Canceled
Amid rising antisemitism and anti-Muslim bigotry around the world, artists are facing intensified scrutiny for expressing their opinions, including on social media. In response, galleries and art institutions in… More
A Year of Books By PEN America Members
We're so proud of our members, who have published 40+ works in 2023, most of which are available to purchase on Bookshop. More
PEN America Expands Support to Children’s Books Authors, with Rising Book Bans
“The banning of books is continuing to take a toll on authors, students, and families,” said Kasey Meehan, program director, Freedom to Read at PEN America. “It’s vital that… More