Trump’s Threat to “Take a Strong Look” at Libel Laws an Attack on U.S. Constitution
Under the First Amendment people are free to denigrate and offend the president or anyone else, a freedom with which the president should be well-acquainted given his own penchant… More
Myanmar Must Release Detained Reuters Journalists Wa Lone and Moe Aung Immediately
The ongoing detention of Wa Lone and Moe Aung, coupled with the threat of serious criminal charges being levied against them, is a blatant attempt to intimidate the press… More
New York State’s Efforts to Restrict Access to Books in Prisons Shows Troubling Disregard for Right to Read
The State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision needs to promote policies that uphold inmates' access to information and safeguard the right to read. Directive 4911A, a ruinously over-broad… More
Arts and Free Expression Groups File Amicus Brief in Pulphus v. Ayers
If the First Amendment stands for one thing, it's that the government can't censor art because it offends or provokes. The Congressional Art Competition is meant to reflect the… More
PEN America and PEN Center USA Move to Unite Writers Coast to Coast to Strengthen Defense Against New Threats to Expression
The decision to join forces was born of a shared sense of urgency to fortify our collective efforts at a time of unprecedented challenges to free speech here at… More
Egypt’s Harassment of writers chills freedom of speech and movement
NEW YORK—Simultaneous developments in the cases of writers Ahmed Naji and Alaa Aswany this weekend are indicative of Egypt's ongoing assault on human rights and free expression, PEN America… More
President Trump’s Efforts to Halt Publication of Critical Book Flagrantly Unconstitutional
The President should immediately withdraw and repudiate this outrageous demand, allowing the American people to render their own judgement of the book. More
Trial of Education Advocate Tashi Wangchuk on Separatism Charges an Attack on Tibetan Linguistic and Cultural Rights
This is an absurd and offensive attack on Tibetan language and cultural rights, which authorities have dressed up as an issue of national security. More
J20 Trial Verdict a Welcome Affirmation of Protest Rights
The verdict is a welcome affirmation of the importance of free expression following repeated attacks on the First Amendment by the Trump administration. More
Longlists for 2018 PEN America Literary Awards Celebrate Icons and Emerging Writers
PEN America today released the longlists for its 2018 Literary Awards, celebrating nearly 70 titles spanning the range of literary work including poetry, fiction, nonfiction, translation, and lifetime achievement. More