News & Analysis
The latest news and analysis from PEN America’s research and advocacy.
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Press Releases • Commentary
New-York Historical Society Presents PEN America at 100: A Century of Defending the Written Word, Opening July 22
PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel, said, “PEN America at 100 opens a remarkable window into PEN America’s century-long effort to unite writers in defense of the freedoms that underwrite… More
Detailing Severe Human Rights Abuses in Belarus, Leaders Call on the UN Human Rights Council to Extend the Mandate of the Special Rapporteur for Human Rights in Belarus
In Taped Reading, Author Margaret Atwood Reads Letter from her Belarusian Translator About the Arrests and Jailing of Writers, Journalists and Publishers By Suzanne Trimel (NEW YORK)-- The severe deterioration of… More
PEN America Condemns Sentencing of Belarusian Philosopher Uladzimir Mackievic to Five Years in a Penal Colony After Closed-Door Hearing
“With each individual detained and incarcerated for their protests against Lukashenka, we see how the situation in Belarus deteriorates and grows more dire,” said Polina Sadovskaya, director of Eurasia… More
“Cruel and Inhumane” Prison Sentences Imposed Without “Legal Merit” on Cuban Artist-Activists Luis Manuel Otero Alcántara and Maykel “Osorbo” Castillo Pérez
Julie Trebault, the Director of the Artists at Risk Connection (ARC) at PEN America. said "This is a blow to artistic freedom in Cuba, and to the artists and… More
PEN America: Free Expression Rights Are Threatened by Overturning Roe v. Wade
As a human rights organization, we are deeply alarmed by a decision to brazenly roll back the right to bodily autonomy. When certain well-established rights are treated as dispensable,… More
Appeals Court’s Decision Upholding Anti-Boycott Law Drastically Undermines Free Expression
“The Eighth Circuit ruling misreads well-established legal precedent and drastically undermines constitutionally protected freedoms,” said Nadine Farid Johnson, Washington director of PEN America. “The right to participate in boycotts,… More
Georgetown University Report on Offensive Tweet by Law School Administrator Raises Concerns for Free Expression
Last week, Ilya Shapiro announced his resignation from Georgetown University following the conclusion of an investigation by the University’s Office of Institutional Diversity, Equity and Affirmative Action (IDEAA), which… More
Proceeding with Trial of Xu Zhiyong is a “Grave and Shameful” Mistake by China
Xu faces a potential punishment of life in prison if convicted. His lawyer will reportedly plead his innocence of the crimes at trial. Trials involving government critics in China—including… More
Justice Department Should Drop Charges Against Julian Assange Under Espionage Act
“Today's decision makes clear: the onus is on the U.S. Department of Justice to drop the charges against Assange under the Espionage Act, once and for all. As we… More
Human Rights Organizations Demand Immediate Freedom for Cuban Artists Facing Persecution Due to Pro-Democracy Activities
The human rights organizations strongly condemned the charges of alleged contempt, defamation, and public disorder brought against the artists, for which the Cuban Prosecutor's Office intends to sentence Otero… More