A Letter from the President of PEN America: American Authors Demand a Second Draft of PEN America, and the World in Which We Write
What does it mean when some authors would rather silence themselves than be associated with an organization that defends free speech and dissent? More
Israel and Gaza
PEN America statements, free expression resources, and stories of writers and artists from the Israel-Hamas war. More
PEN America Speaks: How We Defended and Celebrated Free Expression The Week of March 25
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 Speaks: How We Defended and Celebrated Free Expression The Week of March 18
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 Condemns Reported Assault and Arrest of Al Jazeera Correspondent by the Israeli Military
"Freedom of the press is essential during conflict when disinformation spreads more easily. Palestinian journalists have faced enormous challenges since October 7 and Israel’s retaliatory military campaign in Gaza… More
PEN America Response to Free Speech Bill Pending in Israeli Knesset
Israeli lawmakers must step back from broadening an already concerning campaign against free expression in Israel. More
Israeli and Palestinian Writers and Artists: The Toll of War
PEN America champions the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. In these profiles, we highlight writers, artists, and thinkers who have been… More
Call for Indiana University to Reinstate Professor After Suspension for Event with Israeli-American Writer-Activist
Jonathan Friedman, PEN America’s director of the Free Expression and Education team, said: “It’s difficult to see this as anything but an extreme overreaction. While the university was right… More
PEN America Mourns the Death of Palestinian Scholar-Writer Refaat Alareer
“Through his writing, Refaat Alareer sought to shine a light on life in Gaza. He wanted the world to know the stories of how ordinary Palestinians lived and loved,… More
PEN America: “Gravely Alarmed” by Destruction and Damage to Hundreds of Culture and Educational Sites in Gaza
“Schools, libraries, mosques, churches, and cultural centers are not just buildings; they are sanctuaries of knowledge, bastions of cultural identity, and beacons of intellectual and artistic freedom. Libraries in… More