PEN America “Appalled” by Conviction of Writer Tsitsi Dangarembga Linked to Peaceful Protest in Zimbabwe
“Tsitsi Dangarembga was arrested for exercising her right to peaceful protest. Her arrest and the long drawn out trial against her is clearly intended to send a frightening message… More
PEN America Applauds Congressional Resolutions Condemning Book Bans and Affirming the Right to Free Expression in Schools
"Book bans are a blatant affront to free expression, the lifeblood of our democracy,” said Nadine Farid Johnson, managing director of PEN America Washington and Free Expression Programs. “Encroachments… More
PEN America Calls for Immediate Release of Burmese Artist and Activist Htein Lin Detained in Yangon
“The arbitrary and sudden arrests of Vicky Bowman and Htein Lin are yet more examples of the sweeping and abusive power that the military junta has wielded since its… More
Educational Gag Order Proposals Spike by 250% in 2022, PEN America Reports
“Our report documents in alarming detail the threats to how young people learn and are taught in American schools,” said Suzanne Nossel, Chief Executive Officer of PEN America. “Lawmakers… More
Letter to President Droupadi Murmu on India’s 75th Anniversary of Independence
On India’s 75th anniversary of independence, writers and creatives urge Indian President Droupadi Murmu to defend free expression in India. 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
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
Secret Military Executions of Four Pro-Democracy Myanmar Activists a “Devastating Act of Brutality”
Liesl Gerntholz, director of the PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Center, said: “This is an unspeakable act of brutality, an abhorrent act. We join their families and the people of… More
Failed Bill Brought by Arizona Democrats Would Have Restricted What Teachers Can Teach
"Had HB 2634 become law, Arizona teachers might have been unable to assign materials that depict historical or literary instances of discrimination to educate students about why discrimination is… More
In Letter to President Biden, 44 Noted Writers Urge Him to Raise Human Rights Abuses Directly with the Crown Prince As He Travels to Saudi Arabia
44 writers and journalists joined PEN America in urging President Biden to raise his Administration’s concerns about the human rights situation in Saudi Arabia during his conversations with Crown… More