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
PEN America: Sweeping Ban on Drag Performances in Montana In Effect Criminalizes a Wide Range of Artistic Choices
Jonathan Friedman, director of PEN America’s Free Expression and Education Programs, said: “In their effort to censor drag and LGBTQ+ expression, Montana legislators have enacted a law that is… More
Ahead of United Nations Review, PEN America Finds Chinese Government Has Failed to Protect Women’s Rights
“The May 12 review between the Chinese delegation and the UN Committee provides an opportunity for international scrutiny and accountability for the Chinese government’s violation of women’s rights,” said… More
PEN America Statement About Ted Sarandos and the Business Visionary Award
PEN America released the following statement: “We admire Ted Sarandos’ singular work translating literature to artful presentation on screen, and his stalwart defense of free expression and satire. As a… More
PEN Tulsa Celebrates Free Expression and Queer Identity with Events May 20 and 21
"[...] the title alone is like waving a red cape in front of a right-wing bull. Let alone that it centers the story of an urban Black trans woman.… More
Student Decision to Prevent Speaker from On-Campus Talk in Spokane is Disappointing, Especially in Light of Historic Levels of Education Censorship, Says PEN America
Kristen Shahverdian, senior manager of free expression and education at PEN America, released the following statement: “It is disappointing to see a student group fearful of inviting a speaker based… More
PEN America Report: China & Iran Top List of the Worst Jailers, Abusers of Writers
“Writers have long been and continue to be some of the first victims and intended targets of repressive governments,” said Liesl Gerntholtz, director of the PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write… More
Freedom to Write Index 2022
In 2022, 311 writers were detained or imprisoned around the world for their writing or otherwise exercising their freedom of expression. More
PEN America Calls on China to Release Taiwan-based Publisher Li Yanhe
Li Yanhe had published books by Chinese dissidents and on subjects that otherwise would have been banned by Beijing. He has given Chinese-language readers access to different ideas and… More
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