Cancellation of “Free Speech Week” Events at UC Berkeley Not a Setback for Free Speech
From the start, the groups behind this planned conclave made clear their intent to showcase only a particular set of views, aimed to provoke outrage and bait those who… More
Arts Community Rallies Against Muslim Travel Ban
Thirty arts groups—including PEN America, the Sundance Institute, Americans for the Arts, and the Future of Music Coalition—have jointly filed an amicus brief urging the Supreme Court to strike… More
Upholding Freedom of Speech and the Right to Peaceful Protest at UC Berkeley
Free speech movement leader Mario Savio would have been proud of his alma mater tonight. UC Berkeley wins great credit for enabling conservative commentator Ben Shapiro to speak, allowing… More
Forced Shutdown of News Outlets a Transparent Attempt to Control Pre-Election Conversation in Cambodia
Cambodia's efforts to shut down several news outlets represents a clear attempt to stifle a free press in advance of the country’s upcoming elections. More
Detention of Theater Director Kirill Serebrennikov Part of Campaign to Stifle Artistic Freedom in Russia
The detention of Kirill Serebrennikov is part of a concerted campaign to silence dissenting voices in the arts in Russia, PEN America said in a statement today. More
Sentencing of Pro-Democracy Activists Marks Low Point in Hong Kong’s Commitment to Free Speech
Sentencing of three Hong Kong democracy activists for their role in a 2014 protest represents a low point in Hong Kong’s commitment to freedom of speech. More
Chinese Writer Yang Tongyan Released on Medical Parole for Brain Tumor
News that Chinese dissident writer and 2008 PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award Winner Yang Tongyan was released on medical parole for brain cancer is another appalling reminder of… More
Sentence of Activist Pai Dao Din Manifestly Unjust, Attempt to Silence Critics of Thai Military Rulers
The sentencing of Thai democracy activist “Pai Dao Din” for nothing more than a Facebook post is another outrageous application of Thailand’s lèse-majesté law designed to silence critics of… More
Trump Administration Targets Critics in DOJ Search Warrant for Visitors to Protest Website
Reports that the Justice Department served a warrant on an internet company, demanding it turn over records that could be used to identify more than a million visitors to… More
Protecting Free Speech Rights of White Nationalist Protests in Charlottesville Does Not Require Us to Stay Silent
When the only way to ensure public safety is to shut down speech, all sides lose. More