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Universities Must Prioritize Both Campus Safety and Free Speech as Complementary, Not Competing Imperatives
During the past month, two public universities dealt with campus confrontations involving controversial speakers, student protesters, and apparent members of the Proud Boys, an organization heavily implicated in the… More
The PEN Ten: An Interview with John Weir
It’s terrible to be turned into a human interest story on the nightly news, particularly when the story is about fear and hatred and death and survival. More
PEN America Urges NO Vote By Greenville, S.C. County Council on Vaguely-Worded Resolution to Censor Childrens’ Books in Libraries
Jonathan Friedman, director of PEN America’s Free Expression and Education program, made the following comments: “If passed, this resolution would be an exercise in censorship--ordering the Greenville County Library System… More
PEN America Presents “Censored: Free Speech and Hollywood” Nov. 16 at Central Los Angeles Public Library
By reviewing legislation and court decisions, exploring blacklisted artists, and the opening up of representation in the late 20th century, the discussion will explore controversies around representing some themes… More
PEN America Rejects Calls to Cancel New Book by Justice Amy Coney Barrett
"It is the role of major publishers to make available a wide array of ideas and perspectives. In so doing, they afford readers, critics, historians, and journalists insight that… More
An Interview with PEN/Robert J. Dau Prize Winner Catherine Bai
In the story, it’s food and drink that similarly offer the main character a bodily connection to her heritage, even when linguistic and cultural ties have been eroded. More
PEN America Welcomes U.S. Government Sanctions on Iranian Group that Placed Bounty on Salman Rushdie’s Life
Nadine Farid Johnson, managing director of PEN America Washington and Free Expression Programs, said: “PEN America applauds the Treasury Department’s decision, which sends a powerful message to the Iranian… More
PEN America CEO: All Eyes on Elon Musk to Back Open and Civic Discourse on Twitter
PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel has made the following comment today in response to the announcement that Elon Musk has completed a $44 billion deal to takeover Twitter: “All eyes… More
Blanket Ban on Indoor Protest at U of Florida Amounts to “Prior Restraint on Dissent”
"Of course, we hope that protesters will not shut down, shout down, or obstruct speech, but argument and protest have their place on campuses, even when they grow heated.… More
PEN America Welcomes Justice Department Ban on Seizure of Journalists’ Records
“Whether borne of concerns about national security or as a misuse of resources for political ends, the specter of criminal investigation casts a pall over the ability of journalists… More