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The “Swirl of Ideas” that Propels Author Jennifer Egan As She Puts Pen to Paper (Literally)
An occasional blog about the writing process and how writers approach their work. By Suzanne Trimel “Writing improv” is the way author Jennifer Egan describes how she starts a novel. Egan says:… More
PEN America Report to UN Human Rights Council’s Independent International Commission of Inquiry in Ukraine
PEN America submitted a report detailing Russia’s extensive attacks on Ukrainian cultural infrastructure. More
The Discriminatory Impact Of Book Bans And Educational Gag Orders On LGBTQ+ Expression
Threats to free expression in education have a discriminatory impact on LGBTQ speech and topics, PEN America and PEN International show in a joint submission to the United Nations. More
Chinese Woman’s Rights Activist Li Qiaochu Convicted of Inciting Subversion
PEN America condemns the unjust conviction and sentencing of Chinese labor and women’s rights activist Li Qiaochu. Li, who is the partner of imprisoned activist, essayist, and PEN/Barbey Freedom… More
PEN America Urges Passage of Landmark Legislation Protecting Human Rights Defenders Abroad
“Human rights defenders work tirelessly to realize the promise of representative democracy and equal justice and serve as the conscience of their societies. They should not have to live… More
Authors Join PEN America in Protest Over Banned Books in Rockingham VA Schools
“We are concerned not only about the recent ban, but also the limitations on public discourse,” said Kasey Meehan, Freedom to Read program director at PEN America. “It is… More
More than 50 Books Removed from Rockingham County, Virginia, Schools
PEN America sent a letter to Rockingham County, Virginia schools protesting its recent book bans. These are the books banned in Rockingham County. More
Advocating for Free Expression at the UN: Recommendations for Protecting Writers and Dissidents in Vietnam
PEN America delivered an oral statement at the Fourth UPR Cycle pre-session in Geneva providing recommendations to protect writers and dissidents at risk in Vietnam. More
U.S. House Probe of Harvard U Should be Carried Out with “Great Restraint,” Respect for Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy
“This investigation is turning into a fishing expedition,” said Jeremy Young, director, Freedom to Learn program at PEN America. “The charges of antisemitism at Harvard are serious and demand… More
Nebraska lawmakers are considering damaging DEI and tenure bans
Legislators in Nebraska are hard at work undermining higher education in the state in the name of destroying “woke” ideologies. More