News & Analysis
The latest news and analysis from PEN America’s research and advocacy.
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Press Releases • Commentary
DARE: Trump Ramps up Rhetoric: Democrats Want ‘Illegal Immigrants’ to ‘Infest our Country’
Dehumanization rhetoric ramps up as President Trump and his allies use words like “infest” to describe people who seek to immigrate. Homeland Security Secretary who defended Trump policy separating… More
Bipartisan Support for Oleg Sentsov’s Release Comes as Hunger Strike Approaches 40th Day
“We are heartened by bipartisan support from Senators Roger Wicker (R-MI) and Benjamin Cardin (D-MD) for Ukrainian filmmaker Oleg Sentsov." More
US Withdrawal from UN Human Rights Council Cedes Leadership on Human Rights to “Cynics and Subverters”
"For the U.S. to quit now is to abdicate American leadership on free expression and human rights worldwide, ceding the playing field to the cynics and the subverters." More
DARE: Listen to Children Who’ve Just Been Separated From Their Parents at the Border
ProPublica fuels the fire of a raging debate over family separations at the border through release of an audiotape of children wailing for their parents. LA Times, under new… More
The Importance of Accessing Information In the Wake of Juneteenth
While Juneteenth commemorates the abolition of slavery in the U.S. state of Texas and the emancipation of slaves throughout the Confederate states three years after the Emancipation Proclamation was… More
Re-arrest and Detention of Nasrin Sotoudeh a Vindictive Attempt to Silence Human Rights Activism
“The arrest and conviction of Nasrin Sotoudeh is indicative of the draconian measures the Iranian government will take to silence critical voices.” More
Detention of American Student in Vietnam a Direct Infringement on Right to Peaceful Assembly
“Vietnam continues to demonstrate its unwillingness to respect even the most basic human rights of free expression and assembly." More
DARE: Trump Again Falsely Blames Democrats for His Separation Tactic
Presidential falsehoods about the administration's separation of children from their immigrant parents raises the pressure on news organizations. More
DARE: Lou Dobbs Says White House Should ‘Assign’ Someone to ‘Slap the Hell out Of’ Reporters at Briefing
Attacks on relevant questions that journalists ask of Trump administration continues, picked up by the Cabinet officials, spokespersons, and TV hosts. President Trump’s personal lawyer seeks to block Stormy… More
Press and Free Speech Groups Question Raid on Reporter’s Records in Letter to Attorney General
“That there has been no clarity from the Justice Department on other avenues of investigation pursued before Watkins’ records were seized, a move their own guidelines describe as a… More