Breakdown of Civility at the University of Connecticut an Alarming Development for Academic Discourse
The University of Connecticut must now respond with care and judiciousness to ensure the campus remains a venue for free expression and academic discourse. More
NFL’s Support of Social Justice Causes a Win For Dialogue, Peaceful Protest, and the First Amendment
Dissent and protest are alive and well in Donald Trump’s America, thanks to those willing to stand up—and kneel down—for their rights. More
Trump’s Trafficking of Incendiary and Unverified Videos Unbecoming to Office of the President
The spread of hate speech and the rise of hate crimes have become unmistakable hallmarks of the Trump Administration’s first year in office. More
Scaramucci’s Threat to Sue Tufts Student and Newspaper A Baseless Attempt to Silence Criticism
Scaramucci’s threat to sue a Tufts student and the school newspaper is a baseless attempt to silence criticism fully protected by the First Amendment. More
Turkish Courts Set to Begin Hearings of Purged Dissidents in Academia
The continued targeting of academics in Turkey sends a chilling signal on freedom of thought and expression in institutions of higher education. More
Fordham University Welcomes Writer at Risk in Residence Kanchana Ugbabe with PEN America and Artists at Risk Connection
As a writer and South Asian woman settled in an increasingly unstable part of Nigeria, the risks and uncertainty became personal, reaching her hometown, Jos. More
Defense Lawyers for Detained Altan Brothers Ousted from Court During Trial as Freedom of Expression Continues to Deteriorate in Turkey
The ousting of Ahmet and Mehmet Altan’s legal defense team shows an egregious disregard for the rule of law and civil liberties in Turkey. More
Mauritanian Blogger Released from Prison
NEW YORK—PEN America welcomes the release of blogger Mohamed Cheikh Ould Mkheitir in Mauritania after more than three years behind bars. Mkheitir was condemned to death in 2014 for apostasy. The… More
Advocates Fear for Missing Scholar of Islamic Extremism in Bangladesh
The disappearance of Dr. Mubashar Hasan, a Bangladeshi professor and policy analyst known internationally for his work on Islamic extremism, is yet another egregious example of Bangladesh’s failure to… More
Death of Imprisoned Chinese Writer and Activist Yang Tongyan a Further Blow for Free Expression
News of PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award honoree Yang Tongyan's passing is a harsh reminder of how China treats its critics. More