The PEN Pod: A Reflection on Free Speech in 2021 with Suzanne Nossel
“Perhaps never before in our public discourse. . . has there been a moment where issues of free expression. . . have been more salient to our politics.” More
Chinese Authorities Poised to Put Activists Xu Zhiyong and Ding Jiaxi On Trial, PEN America and China Human Rights Defenders Warn
Chinese authorities may use the lull around the Christmas and New Year’s holidays to subject prominent human rights defenders to unfair trials while much of the international community is… More
The PEN Pod: On Self-Censorship, Book Bans, and Biden’s Virtual Democracy Summit
“Students are really crucial allies. They have, I think, an instinctive sense of not wanting to be told what they can and can’t read.” More
The PEN Pod: On Peng Shuai, Critical Race Theory Taboos, and Simpsons Censorship
“It’s just this very palpable way in which the pressure is being felt at every level. . . from top administrators to individual professors who are being put under… More
PEN America Applauds Women’s Tennis Association’s Strong Support for Tennis Star Peng Shuai
"The contrast between the WTA's show of spine and the International Olympic Committee's readiness to play along with the Beijing government's campaign to deflect questions and blame is striking." More
PEN America Denounces Disney’s Removal of Simpsons Episode
"This type of preemptive self-censorship represents the end-game of all censors: to have the targets of censorship police themselves." More
The PEN Pod: On The University of Austin, Myanmar, and China
“We’re extremely happy for Danny Fenster. . . but I think the real question is, do we see any loosening vis-à-vis the free expression of Myanmar’s own reporters and… More
PEN America Cheers Women’s Tennis Association’s Strong Support for Tennis Star Peng Shuai
WTA's defense of Peng Shuai is a rare example of businesses standing up to Chinese censorship. More
China Must Release Ailing Journalist Who Covered COVID Outbreak
Chinese authorities must immediately release citizen journalist Zhang Zhan, who is reportedly “close to death” while on hunger strike in protest of her imprisonment for documenting and reporting the… More
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PEN America On 
Bad news from Mississippi today, where the state senate passed an educational gag order that applies to all public universities and K-12 schools. Among other things, the bill could threaten recognition of the Black Law Students Association at the University of Mississippi.
We have just learned the Myanmar military have sentenced Ko Jimmy and Phyo Zayar Thaw to death for alleged anti-coup activities.
https://www.myanmar-now.org/en/news/democracy-veteran-ko-jimmy-and-former-nld-mp-phyo-zayar-thaw-sentenced-to-death
Oh, I’ve been waiting for this little gift for a bit now. Here’s a sneak peek for the rest of you! @PENamerica #reginalddwaynebetta #prisonwriting
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