“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
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
PEN America and PEN International: Grave Concern Over the Lack of Due Process Protections in Arbitrary Trials of Cuban Artist Set for May 30-31
"The arbitrary trials against two of Cuba’s most talented and outspoken artists and activists indicate nothing more than the targeted and forceful attempt by the Cuban government to silence… More
Joint Statement Condemning Charges in Cuba Against Maykel “El Osorbo” Castillo Perez and Luis Manuel Otero Alcantara
JOINT STATEMENT CONDEMNING THE CHARGES BROUGHT AGAINST MAYKEL “El OSORBO” CASTILLO PÉREZ AND LUIS MANUEL OTERO ALCÁNTARA IN CUBA [caption id="attachment_219919" align="alignright" width="300"] Maykel “El Osorbo” Castillo Perez, R,… More
Outdoor Evening Poetry Reading April 21 Celebrates Cuban Artist Raul Cordero’s Art Installation “THE POEM” in NYC
The evening will feature short readings from poets Jaime Manrique, Eloisa Amezcua, Melissa Lozada-Oliva, and Maya Pope, and a vigil in solidarity with artists targeted by the Cuban government… More
Javier L. Mora
Javier L. Mora is a contemporary poet and founding member of Archipiélago, a civic group calling for democracy and civil rights in Cuba. He was arrested on the morning… More
Maykel Castillo Pérez El Osorbo
Pérez has faced harassment for his activism, including police beatings and repeated arbitrary detentions since 2018. He was arrested in May 2021 for co-writing “Patria y Vida,” a Grammy-winning… More
Ramón Eusebio López Díaz El Invasor
Known for his dissident writing in his songs and online, rapper Ramón Eusebio López Díaz livestreamed his arrest on June 18, 2021, as police broke into his house following… More
Richard Zamora El Radikal
Richard Zamora is a lyricist who frequently express critical ideas about the Cuban government in his music. On July 12, 2021, Zamora was arrested after participating in the 11J… More
PEN America and PEN International Condemn Six-Year Prison Sentence for Cuban Musician Abel Lescay for His Participation in Peaceful Mass Protests Last July
“Abel Lescay is a brave and talented musician who should never have been in jail in the first place. We are horrified by the news that he has received… More
Alert Us
Are you an artist at risk or know someone who is?
PEN America On 
At @NYHistory's #PEN100 exhibit, visitors see literary greats and champions of free expression, such as "Toni Morrison, Susan Sontag, @MargaretAtwood, Arthur Miller in conversation with each other because they are part of our history," says @ClarisseRS.
BREAKING NEWS:
The 2022 #NobelPrize in Literature is awarded to the French author Annie Ernaux “for the courage and clinical acuity with which she uncovers the roots, estrangements and collective restraints of personal memory.”
PEN OUT LOUD in #NYC!
Join us @strandbookstore on 10/25 at 7pm to celebrate the arrival of @jemelehill’s long-awaited memoir Uphill.
Jemele will be in conversation with #TheView co-host @sunny Hostin.
Details and tickets at: https://pen.org/event/pen-out-loud-jemele-hill-with-sunny-hostin/ #NYCevents #PENOutLoud