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PEN Tulsa Hosts Community Freedom to Read Summit Sat., 9/9
“We are at a critical crossroads in our community and state,” said PEN America Tulsa Chapter leader Jeff Martin. “Given the threats to our literary liberty from state officials… More
Stephenjohn Holgate | 2023 PEN/Robert J. Dau Prize Winner
I’m quite interested in the tensions of these things, how we are pulled in many different directions as the different bits of ourselves, musician, worker, lover and so on,… More
PEN America Condemns Arrest of Iranian Musician Mehdi Yarrahi and Subsequent Work Ban on ‘Cultural Activists’
PEN America condemns the arrest of Iranian musician Mehdi Yarrahi following the release of his song “Your Head Scarf” which protests the long-standing mandatory hijab rule imposed in the… More
PEN America Speaks: How We Defended and Celebrated Free Expression The Week of August 21
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
In Solidarity with Egyptian Fact-Checking and Independent Media Platform Matsadaash
We join together to stand in solidarity with Egyptian fact-checking and independent media platform Matsadaash, following its recent targeting by Egyptian security services. More
Florida College Should Reschedule Photography Exhibit after Dispute Over Reasons for its Cancellation
"As a public college, Daytona has an obligation to uphold academic and artistic freedom; if the revelations in this [anonymous] letter are true, it is a democratic imperative that… More
New Laws Target LGBTQ+ Students and Put Pressure on Teachers to Monitor and Report Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Schools
“This is an alarming trend that threatens to turn teachers into the sexuality and gender police of public education, forcing them by law to monitor the most personal of… More
Educational Intimidation Bills
These bills enable blanket restrictions on books or curricula for all students—and ultimately empower an ideological assault on public education. More
New Report: Surge of Intrusive Legislation to Intimidate Teachers, Drive Self-Censorship in Schools
“This rising tide of educational intimidation exposes the movement that cloaks itself in the language of ‘parental rights’ for what it really is: a smoke screen for efforts to… More
Arrest of Another Journalist in Egypt Casts Further Doubt Over Country’s Commitment to Free Expression
"The arrest of Karim Asaad and ongoing detention of Hisham Kassem once again spotlight Egypt’s dire record on freedom of expression and cast serious doubts on the government’s broader… More