PEN America
Donate Now
  • Issues & Advocacy
    • Book Bans
    • Educational Censorship
    • Campus Free Speech
    • Disinformation
    • Online Abuse
    • Writers at Risk
    • Artists at Risk Connection (ARC)
    • Global Advocacy
    • NYC Literary Action Coalition
    • Next Gen PEN
  • Writers & Readers
    • Literary Awards
    • Grants & Fellowships
    • PEN Across America
    • Prison and Justice Writing
    • Workshops & Trainings
    • Writers in the Schools Committee
    • Children’s and YA Books Committee
    • Translation Committee
  • Festival & Events
    • Events Calendar
    • Event Series
    • 2023 PEN America Literary Gala
    • 2023 PEN America Literary Awards Ceremony
    • 2022 PEN World Voices Festival
    • Authors’ Evenings
  • Read The Latest
    • Research & Reports
    • Take Action
    • #FreeTheBooks
    • Press Releases
    • Interviews & Features
    • PEN America Publications
  • Membership
  • About
    • PEN America at 100
    • About Us
    • PEN America Racial Equity Statement
    • Leadership and Staff
    • Trustees
    • Careers
    • Digital Archives
  • Give
    • Donate Now
    • Become a PEN America Young Patron
    • More Ways to Give
    • Shop
PEN America
Donate Now
  • Advocacy
    & Action
  • Writers
    & Readers
  • Festivals
    & Events
  • Issues & Advocacy
    • Book Bans
    • Educational Censorship
    • Campus Free Speech
    • Disinformation
    • Online Abuse
    • Writers at Risk
    • Artists at Risk Connection (ARC)
    • Global Advocacy
    • NYC Literary Action Coalition
    • Next Gen PEN
  • Writers & Readers
    • Literary Awards
    • Grants & Fellowships
    • PEN Across America
    • Prison and Justice Writing
    • Workshops & Trainings
    • Writers in the Schools Committee
    • Children’s and YA Books Committee
    • Translation Committee
  • Festival & Events
    • Events Calendar
    • Event Series
    • 2023 PEN America Literary Gala
    • 2023 PEN America Literary Awards Ceremony
    • 2022 PEN World Voices Festival
    • Authors’ Evenings
  • Read The Latest
    • Research & Reports
    • Take Action
    • #FreeTheBooks
    • Press Releases
    • Interviews & Features
    • PEN America Publications
  • Membership
  • About
    • PEN America at 100
    • About Us
    • PEN America Racial Equity Statement
    • Leadership and Staff
    • Trustees
    • Careers
    • Digital Archives
  • Give
    • Donate Now
    • Become a PEN America Young Patron
    • More Ways to Give
    • Shop
  • Home
Ayad Akhtar speaking at the lectern at the 2021 PEN America Literary Gala

Ayad Akhtar’s Remarks at the 2021 PEN America Literary Gala

Remarks
By: Ayad Akhtar | October 6, 2021

“Reading, of course, is an individual act, but a culture that fosters reading and one that supports writers, invariably compels us to presence, to protest, to celebration.” More

Suzanne Nossel headshot

The PEN Pod: On the Virtual Gala and the Beauty of Human Rights Work with Suzanne Nossel

InterviewDecember 11, 2020

“There’s something about individual cases of dissidents—these are human stories, faces, and individuals with families and life trajectories. When you can help them, it’s so concrete.” More

Table backdrop with the following words in front: “PEN America Virtual Gala: Tuesday, December 8, 2020”

2020 PEN America Gala

Tuesday, December 8, 2020 | 6:30 pm – 8:00 pm ET
 More Information
Table backdrop with the following words in front: “PEN America Virtual Gala: Tuesday, December 8, 2020”

2020 PEN America Virtual Gala

Event

The PEN America Gala reimagined our annual New York Literary Gala as a national and international virtual celebration. More

Marie Yovanovitch speaking at podium

PEN America to Award 2020 PEN/Benenson Courage Award to Marie Yovanovitch

Press ReleaseSeptember 28, 2020

“At a time when, for government officials, standing on principle can spell an end to a professional career, Ambassador Yovanovitch did not flinch or falter." More

Suzanne Nossel

A Letter from Our CEO: How We’re Reinventing PEN America

Letter
By: Suzanne Nossel | March 24, 2020

“At this exceptionally difficult time for all of us, I wanted to share how we at PEN America are responding to the COVID-19 crisis that has impacted every facet… More

Join PEN America Today

Defend free expression, support persecuted writers, and promote literary culture.

Subscribe

Get updates on events, literary awards, free expression issues, and global news.

 
 
  • What's New
PEN America/PEN International: Chinese Authorities Should Immediately Release Blogger Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison
PEN America, With Other Free Speech Organizations, Sends Letter to Congress Opposing Proposed National TikTok Ban
Letter to Congress Opposing Federal Law to Impose a Ban on TikTok
PEN America and Amani: Africa Creative Defence Network Call on Ugandan President to Veto Anti-LGBTQI Rights Law, Condemning it as a Serious Strike Against Free Expression

Alert Us

Are you an artist at risk or know someone who is?

PEN America On  

penamerica PEN America @penamerica ·
41m

How has Russia’s invasion of Ukraine affected the implementation of Sustainable Development Goals in the region?

Register for our side event at @UNECE Regional Forum on #SustainableDevelopment with experts from Belarus, Russia, and Ukraine to learn more: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_G4M5CETKSVefdrPiJYfMEQ

Reply on Twitter 1639331268642091008 Retweet on Twitter 1639331268642091008 1 Like on Twitter 1639331268642091008 2 Twitter 1639331268642091008
penamerica PEN America @penamerica ·
1h

Tomorrow! Catch DFW-based journalists @evadcoleman @ldallen among a stellar panel of representatives from All Things Edunia, Dallas CORE, @BlackVotersMtr, and @RYHTexas at @TPHDallas for "Fake News" or Not? https://pen.org/event/panel-discussion-at-the-potters-house-of-dallas-fake-news-or-not/

Reply on Twitter 1639324204062617603 Retweet on Twitter 1639324204062617603 Like on Twitter 1639324204062617603 1 Twitter 1639324204062617603
penamerica PEN America @penamerica ·
3h

More than 1,600 books were banned in schools and libraries during the 2021-2022 school year. The most frequently banned books were those that included #LGBTQ themes and addressed issues of race and #racism. https://pen.org/report/banned-usa-growing-movement-to-censor-books-in-schools/ #BannedBooks #Censorship

Reply on Twitter 1639301600345767937 Retweet on Twitter 1639301600345767937 48 Like on Twitter 1639301600345767937 52 Twitter 1639301600345767937
PEN America
588 Broadway, Suite 303
New York, NY 10012
T (212) 334-1660 F (212) 334-2181
PEN America Los Angeles
1370 N. St Andrews Place
Los Angeles, CA 90028
T (323) 424-4939
PEN America Washington, D.C.
1100 13th Street NW, Suite 800
Washington, D.C. 20005
Donate Today
 
Copyright © 2023 PEN America. All rights reserved.   |   Privacy Policy