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PEN America Decries Continued Imprisonment of Poet Galal El-Behairy, Who is Prepared to Escalate his Hunger Strike by Refusing Water
“Five years of arbitrary detention for nothing other than writing poetry and song lyrics has brought Galal El-Behairy to a point where his life is potentially in critical danger,… More
PEN America Defends as Protected Speech a City University of New York Law Student’s Commencement Criticism of Israel and New York Police
Universities must be places where ideas can flow freely, especially political commentary. More
Unsealed: An Open Letter from No More Victims Road
In this open letter, Antwann Lamont Johnson, Sr. considers if the Department of Corrections actually contributes to harm reduction. More
Uprooting the Lie
In this personal essay, Dyego M. Foddrell reflects on how losing his mother while he was incarcerated inspired him to seek redemption for his past. More
Your Language My Ear 2023 Participants
Poets: Ahmad Almallah • Jean Day • Mónica de la Torre • Kay Gabriel • Eugene Ostashvesky • Sawako Nakayasu • Timmy Straw Translators: Luba Golburt • Igor Gulin • Yulia… More
Your Language My Ear 2022 Participants
Poets: Egana Dzhabbarova • Igor Gulin • Ruthie Jenrbekova • Maria Malinovskaya • Ramil Niyazov • Dinara Rasuleva • Konstantin Shavlovsky • Evgeniya Suslova • Ekaterina Zakharkiv • Sergey… More
Your Language My Ear Experts
Expert Group: Polina Barskova • Mark Lipovetsky • Lev Oborin • Kevin M. F. Platt • Polina Sadovskaya • Alexander Skidan • Matvei Yankelevich Read about Your Language My Ear… More
PEN America: Sweeping Ban on Drag Performances in Montana In Effect Criminalizes a Wide Range of Artistic Choices
Jonathan Friedman, director of PEN America’s Free Expression and Education Programs, said: “In their effort to censor drag and LGBTQ+ expression, Montana legislators have enacted a law that is… More
More Than Meets the DEI
Bills that purport to ban DEI initiatives on college campuses are currently in vogue in state legislatures. Their proponents describe them as straightforward “DEI bans.” More
Statement Signed by 57 PEN Centers Worldwide Calls for Release of Chinese Writer and Journalist Dong Yuyu
“We believe that Dong Yuyu is being unjustly detained in reprisal for his writing and interacting with foreign nationals to help inform his global views, in violation of his… More