Student Decision to Prevent Speaker from On-Campus Talk in Spokane is Disappointing, Especially in Light of Historic Levels of Education Censorship, Says PEN America
A fear that the speech will offend some listeners cannot be the bar by which invitations to speakers are denied on campuses. More
New PEN America Manifesto on Translation: A Call for Change to Counter Historic Racial and Gender Inequities in the 21st Century
Allison Markin Powell, a member of the Translation Committee who led the group that drafted the manifesto, said: “The manifesto’s call to action emphasizes that translation is a form… More
PEN America Report: China & Iran Top List of the Worst Jailers, Abusers of Writers
“Writers have long been and continue to be some of the first victims and intended targets of repressive governments,” said Liesl Gerntholtz, director of the PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write… More
PEN America Denounces Decision by Montana House to Bar Transgender Lawmaker from House Floor as a “Betrayal” of the Democratic Process
“This decision by the Montana House is deeply disturbing, especially on the heels of similar actions by the Tennessee legislature to expel lawmakers and silence protesterse,” said Kate Ruane,… More
Marking World Press Freedom Day May 1, PEN America Screens New Documentary and Talkback with Director-Journalist On Covering Besieged Mariupol
20 Days in Mariupol is the first feature-length documentary by AP reporter Mstyslav Chernov, an AP war correspondent and photographer for decades. He presents an unflinching account of the… More
Banned in the USA Spotlight: Mike Curato
Mike Curato's Flamer was tied for the most banned book in the fall of 2022 in PEN America’s Index of School Book Bans. He tells PEN America why he… More
PEN America Condemns Convictions of Asheville, NC Journalists Arrested for Filming Police Clearing of Encampment of Homeless People
(NEW YORK) – The arrests and convictions of two North Carolina journalists on trespassing charges for filming police as they cleared an encampment of homeless people sets a “dangerous… More
PEN America Reacts to the Passing of Artist-Activist Harry Belafonte
Suzanne Nossel, CEO of PEN America, made the following statement about the passing of Harry Belafonte: "Having had the privilege of collaborating with Harry Belafonte to advance human rights I… More
Local Journalists Join PEN America’s Arizona Chapter for Discussion on Trust in Media to Mark World Press Freedom Day May 3
“Meet the Media: A Celebration of World Press Freedom,” will be moderated by long-time Valley radio and television journalist Danielle Williams at 6:30-8 pm local time at Changing Hands… More
PEN America: Removal of Art Exhibit on Florida Campus Shows the State Again Exerting Control over Free Expression
In response to the removal, PEN America’s senior manager of free expression and education Kristen Shahverdian, said: “It’s disappointing to see yet another removal of art on a Florida… More