South Korean Artists’ Blacklist a Threat to Artistic Expression
Recent allegations of the existence of a government-created “blacklist” of artists seen as critical of the Park Geun-hye administration, if true, would represent an institutionalized threat against artistic expression… More
Trump Administration’s Threat to Impose Ideological Test for Immigrants Evokes Dark Chapter in U.S. History, says PEN America
Excluding people from the United States purely on the basis of what they think and believe is unconstitutional and would evoke a dark chapter in our history More
Arrest of Journalists Intimidates Press at Crucial Moment for Reporting on Mass Protest
The arrests of several journalists covering protests in Washington, D.C., on felony riot charges is an alarming encroachment on the right of the press to document public demonstrations, PEN… More
Trump Administration Muzzles Federal Employees, Undermines Government Transparency
Orders from President Trump issued to several federal agencies to cease all communications with Congress, the press, and the public issued to several federal agencies are incompatible with… More
China: New VPN Regulations an Attempt to Narrow Last Lifeline to a Free Internet
China’s move to outlaw the use of virtual private networks (VPNs) represents another step toward the regime’s attempts to obtain complete control over access to information in China, PEN… More
Fordham University’s Refusal to Permit SJP Group Does a Disservice to Free Expression, Open Campus Debate
NEW YORK—Fordham University’s refusal to allow students to start a chapter of Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) infringes upon the principles of free expression and association that all… More
Trump Administration Plans to Abolish National Endowments for the Arts and the Humanities Will Usher in New ‘Dark Ages’ in America
NEW YORK—In response to news this morning of Trump administration plans to eliminate the National Endowment for the Arts and the National Endowment for Humanities, PEN America Executive Director… More
TEJU COLE BECOMES FIRST WRITER EVER TO BE NAMED FINALIST FOR TWO PEN AMERICA LITERARY AWARDS
PEN America announced the finalists today for its 2017 Literary Awards, including Teju Cole, who becomes the first writer in the award program’s 54-year history to be named a… More
Thousands in New York Pledge to Defend Press and Freedom of Speech Against Trump Administration
As Donald Trump and his team continue to insult journalists and disparage critical voices, more than 2,000 artists, writers, and readers gathered with PEN America today on the steps… More
PEN America Expresses Concern Over Recent Developments at PEN Russia
NEW YORK—PEN America stands in solidarity with Russian writers who share our ideals and those of the PEN Charter in strong defense of free expression and other human rights,… More