PEN America Statement on the Disruption of a Los Angeles Book Event by Protests
Allison Lee, Los Angeles director of PEN America said, “PEN America is a big tent organization that values, supports, and creates dialogue, including among writers who hold wide-ranging points… More
New Policies at American University Undermine Free Expression on Campus
PEN America’s Kristen Shahverdian, senior manager on the Free Expression and Education team, said: “Clamping down on free expression in the name of inclusion is an insult to both… More
House Passes First Federal Bill Shielding Journalists from Revealing Sources
House bill, H.R.4250, known as the PRESS Act (for Protect Reporters from Excessive Suppression Act) is “integral to protect journalists in reporting freely without fear of retaliation or court-ordered… More
PEN America Mourns the Death of Children’s Book Author Robie Harris, a Champion of Free Expression and the Right to Read
[caption id="attachment_242286" align="alignnone" width="300"] Robie Harris, left, with PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel at the 2023 PEN America Literary Gala, NYC[/caption] By Suzanne Trimel (NEW YORK)— PEN America is mourning the… More
PEN America Expresses Relief Over Court Injunction Against Texas Law Requiring Sexual Ratings for School Books
“Booksellers are essential in advancing the freedom to read for all. Blocking the implementation of HB 900 will help ensure authors can reach Texas audiences and bookstores can distribute… More
Call for Indiana University to Reinstate Professor After Suspension for Event with Israeli-American Writer-Activist
Jonathan Friedman, PEN America’s director of the Free Expression and Education team, said: “It’s difficult to see this as anything but an extreme overreaction. While the university was right… More
Journalists Single Out Extremism as a Topline Concern Ahead of 2024
A year ago, PEN America published Hate in the Headlines: Journalism and the Challenge of Extremism, a report examining the blurring line between right-wing and antidemocratic extremism and U.S.… More
In Win For Free Expression, Judge Rules Lawsuit Challenging Escambia County, FL Book Bans Can Move Forward
Katie Blankenship, director of PEN America’s Florida office, issued the following statement: “Today, we urged the court to vindicate the Constitutional rights of students, parents, authors and publishers. We are… More
Oral Arguments Set for 1/10 on Groundbreaking Federal Lawsuit Challenging Book Bans in Florida
Katie Blankenship, PEN America’s Florida director, said: “School libraries are not state propaganda centers. They are meant to be sites of inquiry, where students can encounter a diverse range… More
Artist-Activist Ai Weiwei in Conversation with Author and Cultural Critic Mira Jacob on 1/23 in New York City
From personal experience as an artist who has been persecuted for criticizing the state, Ai Weiwei has a deep understanding of why creative and free expression matters so deeply. More