University of Alabama campuses didn’t have to close their DEI offices. They did anyway.
The closures are a textbook example of how universities ought not to respond to educational censorship: banning offices and concepts via administrative overcompliance that are not banned by law. More
The Fighters Who Narrate: Iranian Writer Sepideh Rashnu on the Eve of Her Incarceration
Dissidents like Sepideh Rashnu embody the role that writers and artists often play in defending human rights in places like Iran. More
What We’re Doing about Disinformation in 2024
This moment calls for innovative approaches to tackling false information, and PEN America is ready to support journalists, policy makers, and communities across the country. More
“Thank you for not giving up on Florida”: A rallying cry at the Unified Voices Summit in Orlando
Last weekend, superheroes of education and civic engagement turned out by the hundreds in Orlando to stand against Gov. DeSantis and other other elected leaders who are censoring and… More
The State of Book Bans: Wisconsin’s Battle with “Parental Rights”
Even without a “parental rights” law on the books, the rhetoric and associated policies have led to chaos in schools and libraries across Wisconsin. More
Campus Protests Then and Now: How Today’s Encampments Echo History
"Many of the protestors who are engaging in these things know full well they are breaking the rules and are expecting to suffer the consequences — which is the… More
Unified Voices Summit in Florida: Educators, Authors, Faith Leaders and Activists Organize for the Right to Read
The Unified Voices Summit July 12-13 brings together authors, educators, students, teacher’s unions, faith leaders, and activists from across the state to solidify and mobilize the growing grassroots movement… More
Risk Assessment and Physical Safety: What Every Journalist Should Know
Recent physical attacks on student reporters covering campus protests highlighted an uncomfortable truth: Journalist safety is declining in the United States. The U.S. slipped 10 places in the recent World… More
Trouble in Censorville: Teachers Describe Trauma Inflicted in the War on Education
Depression. Social isolation. Insomnia, weight gain, hair loss. These are some of the symptoms that 14 public school teachers describe experiencing in Trouble in Censorville, a collection of oral… More
PEN America Prison and Justice Writing Program FAQ
PEN America’s Prison and Justice Writing program (PJW) is a successful program that has supported the freedom to write inside U.S. prisons for a half century. More