PEN America Speaks: How We Defended and Celebrated Free Expression This Week
PEN America works tirelessly to defend free expression, support persecuted writers, and promote literary culture. Here are some of the latest ways PEN America is speaking out. More
Saturday Night Live’s Lorne Michaels and Netflix Co-CEO Ted Sarandos Will Be Honored at PEN America 2023 Spring Literary Gala, with SNL’s Weekend Update Co-Anchor Colin Jost as Host
PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel said: “Lorne Michaels’ unique brand of uproarious and fearless political and social sketches forever changed television and comedy. The political landscape wouldn’t be the… More
Laws restricting drag shows should scare everyone who believes in free expression
A wave of bills restricting free expression is building in state legislatures. This time, the target is drag performances. More
Kate Ruane Joins PEN America as Inaugural Sy Syms Director, U.S. Free Expression Programs
(WASHINGTON)-- PEN America, the free expression and literary advocacy organization, today announced the appointment of Kate Ruane as the inaugural Sy Syms Director, U.S. Free Expression programs. Ruane joins… More
The Absurd Year in Educational Censorship, From Gay Penguins to the Gettysburg Address
It has been an absurd year for educational censorship. More
PEN America 2022 in Review: How We Defended Free Expression
In PEN America’s 100th year, our mission was as vital as ever. We celebrated words, and we fought for the right to be heard. With your help, we can… More
PEN America Calls on Elon Musk to Reverse Twitter Suspensions of Journalists
”It’s alarming but unfortunately not so surprising to see Musk silencing journalists or creating new content regulation rules on a whim, based purely on what he finds inconvenient for… More
New Report: Troubling Rise in Restrictions on Artistic Freedom and Human Rights in Latin America and the Caribbean
“In the last few years, political and social tensions have risen dramatically in Latin America and the Caribbean amid the confluence of grave crises and dramatic changes. Authoritarian governments… More
First-of-its-Kind Manual to Help Swahili-Speaking Journalists and Human Rights Advocates Defend Against Online Harassment and Abuse
Note: Press release below in Swahili (NAIROBI, NEW YORK) — The literary and free expression group PEN America launched the Mwongo wa Mafunzo ya Unyanyasaji Mtandaoni, a Swahili-language manual to… More
Indictment of Iranian Rap Artist Toomaj Salehi for Music Supporting Protests is “Obscene and Horrifying,” Says PEN America
(NEW YORK)— PEN America today condemned the indictment in Iran of rap artist Toomaj Salehi, who could face the death penalty for songs he wrote in support of ongoing mass… More
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Walking on Eggshells: Teachers' Responses to Classroom Limitations on Race- or Gender-Related Topics
@RANDCorporation report on educational gag orders shows #teachers are self-censoring and restrictions are falling disproportionately on Black teachers.
https://www.rand.org/pubs/research_reports/RRA134-16.html
@PENamerica predicted in November 2021: "These bills will have a chilling effect on the speech of educators." We wish we had been wrong. State legislators: did you want teachers more afraid and students learning less? Because that's what you've created. https://pen.org/report/educational-gag-orders/
Then there’s this 🙄 https://twitter.com/penamerica/status/1619505262024601601