PEN America’s Work on First Amendment Rights Provides Inspiration for Young Activists in New Harry Potter Themed Toolkit
PEN America’s lawsuit and work to protect press freedom are highlighted as examples of how Harry Potter fans can push back on attempts to quash dissent. More
2016 PEN/Allen Foundation Literary Service Award: J.K. Rowling
JK Rowling has used her talents and stature as a writer to fight inequality on both a local and global level. Herself the frequent object of censorship in schools… More
2016 Publisher Honoree: Michael Pietsch
Hachette Book Group CEO Michael Pietsch, a PEN America Trustee, has worked as an editor to David Foster Wallace, James Patterson, Donna Tartt, and others, championing the power of… More
JK Rowling defends Donald Trump’s right to be ‘offensive and bigoted’
JK Rowling has said that while she finds almost everything that Donald Trump says “objectionable”, he still has her full support to come to the UK and “be offensive… More
J.K. Rowling Criticizes Donald Trump but Defends His Freedom of Speech
J.K. Rowling held up Donald Trump as an example of the importance of freedom of expression in her remarks Monday night at the PEN America Literary Gala, a glittery… More
Works Sighted: J.K. Rowling on Donald Trump and Free Speech
When J.K. Rowling mentioned a petition to keep Donald Trump out of the United Kingdom, her audience at the PEN Literary Gala and Free Expression Awards on Monday laughed… More
JK Rowling Honored At 2016 PEN Literary Gala — Here Are Inspiring Quotes From Her Speech
The 2016 PEN Literary Gala & Free Expression Awards was Monday night at the American Museum of Natural History in New York City, where author and ardent defender of… More
PEN America to Honor J.K. Rowling, Hachette CEO Michael Pietsch at Annual Literary Gala
Through her writing, Rowling engenders imagination, empathy, humor, and a love of reading, along the way revealing moral choices that help us understand ourselves. More
On J.K. Rowling’s Harry Potter series
These books have taught children to read, to think, to write, and to criticize, all hallmarks of free expression. (Harry Potter taught me how to read Portuguese. Quidditch is… More