Flying Kites
In this special edition Illustrated PEN, we are thrilled to present an excerpt of Flying Kites, a collaboration by the Stanford Graphic Novel Project. More
Off Season
In this week’s Illustrated PEN Guest Editor Meg Lemke presents Off Season (Drawn & Quarterly, 2019) by artist James Sturm. More
Blame This on the Boogie
Despite the demands put on her from family, school, and work throughout, she carves out a space for her love of dance, cultivates it, and invites others in. More
Lissa: A Story About Medical Promise, Friendship, and Revolution
Family is important! And people like her are breaking up our families! Her father comes here and takes all of our oil, and I have to go to the… More
In Pieces: Someplace Which I Call Home
My son is almost four. We adore him. Of course, at the moment, his life is fairly simple. But the emotional & ethical road before him is a rough… More
Taking Turns: Stories from HIV/AIDS Care Unit 371
When it became clear that Stephen was taking his last breaths, his friends and family gathered close, and like a chorus, sent him on his way. Thank you, Stephen!... More
Tenements, Towers & Trash
The exact history of the egg cream is of some debate, but the most popular claim is that it was created in the 1890s by Louis Auster… More
Incognegro
In the early 20th century White went undercover, posing as a white man in the deep south to investigate lynchings. More
The Art of Charlie Chan Hock Chye
A fictional comic book artist in Singapore creates a satirical comic about Singapore's first prime minister Lee Kuan Yew and the battle for freedom of expression. More
Free Expression Digest: Wed., December 2
Egyptian journalist detained for 'spreading false news', Turkish court rejects appeal for jailed editors, #SueMeSaudi goes viral. More
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PEN America On 
As we approach #BannedBooksWeek, PEN America is dedicated to fighting against censorship. Make your gift and support the #FreedomToWrite today. https://bit.ly/3i1gy6F
Political rhetoric from Trump & the US AG is trickling down, bolstering federal prosecutorial efforts to build a national police power and to impose extreme penalties on protesters. Penalties for First Amendment activity have risen since Trump took office. https://www.npr.org/2020/09/27/917424823/critics-say-federal-prosecutors-are-pushing-the-envelope-with-protest-charges