Proposal to Restrict Some Books Deemed “Obscene” from Minors in Huntington Beach, CA Is “Nothing Short of Censorship,” Says PEN America
Allison Lee, PEN America’s Los Angeles director, said: “Government officials weighing in on the minutiae of library collection management is nothing short of censorship. What Van Der Mark is… More
Suspension of Virtual Library App by CA’s Orange Unified School District Is An Overreaction and Sets a Worrisome Precedent
Allison Lee, managing director of PEN America’s Los Angeles office, released the following comments: “The decision to immediately remove access to thousands of books for students due to a few… More
Prison Arts Collective and PEN America Collaboration on New Season of Outside:Inside Radio
Outside:Inside Radio started in 2020 as a means to expand PAC programming for incarcerated participants during the extensive lockdowns due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Hosted and co-produced by Kathie… More
Universities Must Prioritize Both Campus Safety and Free Speech as Complementary, Not Competing Imperatives
During the past month, two public universities dealt with campus confrontations involving controversial speakers, student protesters, and apparent members of the Proud Boys, an organization heavily implicated in the… More
On Pressing the Bounds of What’s Possible: A Conversation with Emile DeWeaver
PEN America Prison and Justice Writing intern Charley Burlock interviews writer Emile DeWeaver. More
Nineteen Writers Win Coveted Awards in 2022 Prison Writing Contest
Caits Meissner, director of PEN America's Prison and Justice Writing program, said: "This year's submissions underscore the extraordinary resilience, individuality, and indomitable artistry of writers inside prisons. These indispensable… More