PEN America Welcomes Senate Bill to Support Local News
“Establishing a federal commission on local news is a crucial step towards building a bipartisan commitment to a diverse, free, and sustainable press, which is foundational to ensuring all… More
Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf to Lead Literary Programming at PEN America
"Clarisse has established a name for herself as one of the country’s most innovative, broad-ranging and magnetic literary leaders." More
Knowing the News: A Media Literacy Project
As we navigate through the onslaught of COVID-19 coverage and head toward a national election this fall, PEN America believes it is vital to equip the public with the… More
Texas A&M Considering Firing Professor Who Protested Racial Injustice
“That the cancelation of a single class and some office hours is gaining such outsized scrutiny raises serious questions about whether the furor here is about the cancellations or… More
DeSantis’ Anti-Protest Proposal Shows Flagrant Disregard for First Amendment
“Florida Governor DeSantis' anti-protest bill politicizes the right to protest and flagrantly disregards the protections provided by the First Amendment." More
Professor’s Use of Term “Chinese Virus” Contemptible, Not Alone Rationale for Formal Discipline
"We understand a university dean is reviewing the incident, and we caution against pursuing any formal reprimand based solely on the words in the professor's email." More
Mississippi Official Targets Professor Who Took Part in “Scholar Strike”
"We are concerned that this letter and investigation is part of a concerted campaign meant to intimidate and chill the speech of faculty who are critical of the state… More
Trump’s “Patriotic Education” Proposal Is Polarizing, Ideologically Driven
"The prospect of this White House dictating an America First curriculum to schools across the country should send chills down the spines of all who value academic freedom and… More
Bolton Criminal Investigation Is Part of White House Pattern of Punishing Critics
"The administration's heavy-handed and politically-motivated reaction to the publication of John Bolton's book forms part of a pattern of White House efforts to punish vocal critics." More
Skidmore Should Stand Strong for Basic Assembly Rights
"It should be easy for Skidmore to ardently defend his basic civil liberties, and clearly and unequivocally explain why these calls are so disproportionate and extreme." More
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PEN America On 
Political rhetoric from Trump & the US AG is trickling down, bolstering federal prosecutorial efforts to build a national police power and to impose extreme penalties on protesters. Penalties for First Amendment activity have risen since Trump took office. https://www.npr.org/2020/09/27/917424823/critics-say-federal-prosecutors-are-pushing-the-envelope-with-protest-charges
