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“Salman has stood most powerfully for the values of PEN America,” says PEN President Ayad Akhtar
"It is hard to find words to express the emotions occasioned by today’s shocking attack on Salman Rushdie. As a former President of our organization, Salman means so much… More
PEN America Reels from Shock and Horror Over Brutal Attack on Salman Rushdie
"PEN America is reeling from shock and horror at word of a brutal, premeditated attack on our former President and stalwart ally, Salman Rushdie, who was reportedly stabbed multiple… More
Utah School District’s Reversal on Decision to Remove 52 Books From School Libraries Is an Important Step in Recognizing Students’ Speech Rights
Jonathan Friedman, director of free expression and education programs at PEN America, said: "At a board meeting this week, the Alpine School Board announced that they will not be… More
The PEN Ten: An Interview with t. jahan
We need stories to know ourselves. We also need stories to empathize. Stories are an accessible space to come to a place of true understanding. More
Executions of Pro-Demcracy Activists in Myanmar Raise Fears of Escalation of Military Campaign of Terror Against Civilians
The U.S. Government Must Apply Pressure to Stop the Junta from Further Abuses By Liesl Gerntholtz and Nadine Farid Johnson The shattering news that four democracy activists were secretly executed at… More
Two Years After the Rigged Belarus Election, the United States Can Do More to Call Out Aleksandr Lukashenka’s Abuses
By Polina Sadovskaya The fraudulent election of Aleksandr Lukashenka as president of Belarus on August 9, 2020 surprised no one. Everyone expected him to ‘win,’ but very few wanted him… More
Florida School District Slaps Stigmatizing and Alarming Warning Labels on Books Deemed “Unsuitable” for Children
Jonathan Friedman, director of free expression and education programs at PEN America, said in response: “This alarming development is just the latest in an onslaught of attacks against students’… More
The PEN Ten: An Interview with Cleyvis Natera
These days, I write from a place of celebration and freedom I never imagined would be available to me until much later in my writing career. More
PEN America Condemns Arrest of Guatemalan Journalist Jose Ruben Zamora, Calling His Imprisonment an “Unsconscionable Attempt” to Silence Him
“The arrest of José Rubén Zamora is clearly politically motivated and an egregious effort to undermine press freedom, as well as an unconscionable attempt by the Guatemalan government to… More
New Op-Ed Series Focused on the Freedom to Learn to Launch in Washington Post’s ‘Made by History’ Section
“We’re excited to partner with the Washington Post’s Made by History to support high-quality, well-researched analysis by professional historians on the unprecedented threats to our education system,” said Jeremy… More