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“Unfortunate” Development for Academic Freedom, as Arizona State University Center Closes After Donor Withdraws Funding
PEN America’s director of Free Expression and Education Jonathan Friedman said in response: “The loss of the Lewis Center is an unfortunate outcome for academic freedom at ASU. It’s… More
PEN America Rejects Move by Huntington Beach, CA Government to Consider a Legal Study to Restrict Books from Minors
Elana K Arnold, one of the most frequently banned authors in the country in the first half of this school year, spoke, urging a rejection of the proposal. “When… More
Re: Hong Kong injunction seeking to ban “Glory to Hong Kong”
PEN America joined 23 civil society organizations regarding a legal injunction being sought by the Hong Kong government that would effectively ban intermediaries from broadcasting or distributing online, including… More
Missouri School Board’s Decision to Retain Maus is a Positive Move But Removing Six Other Books is Unfortunate, Says PEN America
“While Maus will thankfully remain on bookshelves, there is no reasonable basis for blocking student access to the other six books. These new bans are an unfortunate – and… More
PEN America Calls for Dismissal of Lawsuit that Seeks to Silence Disinformation Researchers
“This lawsuit is a calculated attempt to silence academic research and chill advocacy combating disinformation,” said Kate Ruane, director of U.S. Free Expression Programs at PEN America. “Despite the… More
Proposal to Restrict Some Books Deemed “Obscene” from Minors in Huntington Beach, CA Is “Nothing Short of Censorship,” Says PEN America
Allison Lee, PEN America’s Los Angeles director, said: “Government officials weighing in on the minutiae of library collection management is nothing short of censorship. What Van Der Mark is… More
Years More Added to Journalist’s Prison Sentence in Algeria Shows Deepening Crackdown on Press Freedom
Justin Shilad, Middle East and North Africa Research and Advocacy lead at PEN America, said the increased sentence points to the “arbitrary nature of the charges and original sentence… More
The PEN Ten: An Interview with Amelia Possanza
Archiving is a community act, and we will need many, many generations of future archivists to protect these stories from censorship, to make them immortal. More
PEN America Condemns Censorship and Intimidation at LGBTQ Pride Events in Türkiye
“The decision by the Kadıköy District Governorship to ban events such as a Pride Month film screening and arrest attendees, and to ban a separate ‘tea and talk’ event,… More
“Misguided and Chilling” Decision by CA School Board to Fire Superintendent, Following Removal of Textbook Over Inclusion of LGBTQ+ Rights History, Says PEN America
Allison Lee, director of PEN America’s Los Angeles office, made the following comments: “By firing Dr. McClay, the Temecula board has sent a chilling message to the ranks of teachers… More