News & Analysis
The latest news and analysis from PEN America’s research and advocacy.
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Press Releases • Commentary
PEN America Condemns Arrest of Cuban Artists, Mass Detention of Protestors
“Such alarming disregard for the fundamental rights to freedom of expression and protest sends a clear message to independent artists and thinkers on the island: speak your mind and… More
PEN America Publishes First-Ever Guide for Artists at Risk
“This year, we’ve seen an explosion of protest movements worldwide, but also the desperate attempts by governments to unjustly and at times violently muzzle artistic freedom and dissent.“ More
Reports: China to Escalate Charges Against PEN America Honoree Xu Zhiyong
“Chinese officials are choosing this moment to double down on repression, using Xu to signify their imperviousness to global pressure to comply with international norms of free expression." More
PEN America, RWCHR File Complaint on Behalf of Detained Chinese Couple
“It’s clear that Wang Zang’s dissenting political opinions have made him a target of criminal persecution, and it is just as obvious that Wang Liqin has been targeted for… More
Thailand Sentences Civil Servant to 43 Years for Insulting Monarchy
“Today’s sentence serves as the newest and most outrageous example of how unjust and unwise Thailand’s lèse-majesté law is, and how repressively it is being wielded." More
Student Activist Arrested After Reading Poem Wins Key First Amendment Victory
"The victory for Mr. Bello is a victory for anyone who may hope to use their words to propel social change.” More
The COVID-19 Pandemic’s Devastating Toll on Journalism
The COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on journalism have been profound, not just in the tragic loss of life but also the loss of reporting at the local level. More
PEN America Condemns Siege Around Ugandan Opposition Leader’s Home
“Placing Bobi Wine under military house arrest is just the latest iteration of a protracted and concerted effort by Ugandan authorities to silence his outspoken voice that began when… More
PEN America Demands Immediate Release of Belarusian Translator Volha Kalackaja
"The detention of Volha Kalackaja is the latest injustice; PEN America calls for her immediate release and for any and all charges against her to be dropped." More
PEN America Supports Powell’s Decision to Continue Selling Controversial Book
"We must recognize and cherish the right of bookstores to offer the perspectives of authors from across the political spectrum." More