Sentencing of Chair of The Freedom Theatre in Jenin, Palestine is a Serious Human Rights Violation
“The arrest and imprisonment without trial of Bilal Al-Saadi represents a serious violation of his human rights, while the growing crackdown on Palestian civil society raises grave concerns about… More
PEN America Applauds Congressional Resolutions Condemning Book Bans and Affirming the Right to Free Expression in Schools
"Book bans are a blatant affront to free expression, the lifeblood of our democracy,” said Nadine Farid Johnson, managing director of PEN America Washington and Free Expression Programs. “Encroachments… More
“Heckler’s Veto” Has No Place in Interrupting Speakers on College Campuses
(NEW YORK) -- Protestors at the University of New Mexico last week interrupted a speech by conservative commentator Tomi Lahren, who appeared at the invitation of conservative student group… More
New Report: 2,500+ Book Bans Across 32 States During 2021-22 School Year
“While we think of book bans as the work of individual concerned citizens, our report demonstrates that today's wave of bans represents a coordinated campaign to banish books being… More
Court in India Urged to Release Writer Vernon Gonsalves, as His Health Worsens
“The continued detention of Vernon Gonsalves puts his life at imminent risk and stems from arbitrary accusations which have yet to be proven, while he has languished for years… More
PEN America Calls for the Immediate Acquittal and Release of Mongolian Activist Munkhbayar Chuluundorj Sentenced to 10 Years in Prison for Protesting China-Mongolia Relations
“The harsh and unjust verdict in Munkhbayar Chuluundorj’s trial is a grave violation of the fundamental right to free expression,” says Liesl Gerntholtz, director of the PEN/Barbey Freedom to… More
New Financial Help to Sustain Ukraine Artists, as War Tears Apart Their Creative Practice
Julie Trebault, ARC director, said: “The war in Ukraine has torn apart the lives of Ukrainians, including many artists, who, despite the brutality, have lent their talent and courage… More
Jenny Holzer Art Installation to Light Up Rockefeller Center Buildings with Prose in Celebration of PEN America’s 100th Birthday, Starting Wed., 9/14
The outdoor installation, titled SPEECH ITSELF, will include quotes from more than 60 authors in a visual tribute to the right to express ourselves freely. Among the authors whose… More
Concern Raised Over Censorship Threat Against Netflix, Disney from Saudi Arabia, Gulf Neighbors
“These calls are unfortunately no surprise coming from regimes all too accustomed to censoring the stories and ideas their own citizens can access. But their attempt to inflict that… More
Celebrated Authors Gather Mon., Sept. 12 for “Words on Fire: Writing, Freedom, and the Future”
MEDIA ADVISORY (NEW YORK) — PEN America presents Words on Fire: Writing, Freedom, and the Future, an afternoon of urgent public conversation on the issues that drive the world’s leading… More
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Thanks to everyone who made our Saturday event, "Choosing Community," so invigorating!
ICYMI: a recording is coming soon.
Special thanks to @TamoaC @wilkinebrutus @gamarrae @EvelynPR @Laywony @anaspelaez @FlaGrassroots @sanctuary_arts @miami_freedom @VACaucus @cubanospalante.
“In many ways,” @DrIbram Kendi said, “this book banning is the latest effort for people to think that the existential threat is not #racism... the existential threat is not #sexism... the existential threat is not #transphobia... it’s just vicious, man.” https://thehilltoponline.com/2022/09/26/dr-ibram-x-kendi-and-rep-cori-bush-discuss-censorship-in-america/
Black voters matter. During #ALC51, join Yosef Getachew from @CommonCause, Candice Fortman from @media_outlier & Heather Harding from @campaignfuture at @PressClubDC in DC on 9/28 to discuss how we can empower Black voters by fighting disinformation. RSVP: http://bit.ly/3r7sScs