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Russell Banks

PEN America pays tribute to Russell Banks, a giant of letters and staunch ally

Obituary
By: Lisa Tolin | January 9, 2023

PEN America paid tribute on Monday to novelist Russell Banks, a longtime advocate of free expression and member of PEN America, who died over the weekend at age 82. More

PEN America Mourns the Death of Thai Artist, Scholar, and Art Critic Thanom Chapakdee

Press ReleaseJuly 6, 2022

Julie Trebault, director of the Artists at Risk Connection, said in a statement: “We will miss him dearly and our hearts are with his family and friends during this… More

Larry McMurtry seated in front of books

PEN America Mourns Death of Novelist, Former PEN America President Larry McMurtry

Press ReleaseMarch 26, 2021

PEN America today mourns the death of writer Larry McMurtry, a novelist and screenwriter who served as PEN America’s President and was a staunch defender of free expression. More

A judge's gavel

DARE: Attorney General Nominee William Barr Doesn’t Reject the Possibility of Jailing Journalists

News DigestJanuary 16, 2019

Attorney general nominee William Barr tells Senate confirmation hearing that he can conceive of situations in which journalists could be jailed. The... More

Remembering Vera B. Williams: A Tribute

Tribute
By: PEN America | October 30, 2015

Friends, writers, and illustrators pay tribute to the longtime former chair of PEN's CYAB Committee and much beloved children's book writer and illustrator. More

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  • What's New
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Trusted Messengers: How Community Engagement Journalism is Uniquely Positioned to Slow the Spread of Mis/Disinformation
PEN America Speaks: How We Defended and Celebrated Free Expression This Week
Fid Thompson
The PEN Ten: An Interview with Sunu Chandy
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Countering misinformation and disinformation about the indictment of former President Donald Trump

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penamerica PEN America @penamerica ·
47m

White House will not pay for staff's official Twitter profiles to be verified: "It is our understanding that Twitter Blue does not provide person-level verification as a service... a blue check mark will now simply (verify)... the account is a paid user." https://www.axios.com/2023/03/31/twitter-verification-white-house-biden-check-mark

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penamerica PEN America @penamerica ·
53m

#Florida: Pinellas school officials now deny the PG-rated ‘Ruby Bridges’ film they banned was banned.

Previously: The district banned Toni Morrison’s first novel, “The Bluest Eye,” from all high schools in January after one Palm Harbor parent complained. https://www.tampabay.com/news/education/2023/03/31/school-board-superintendent-kevin-hendrick-disney-north-shore-elementary/

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tasslynm Dr. Tasslyn Magnusson @tasslynm ·
18h

Proud. @PENamerica supports kidlit and authors esp on Trans Day of visibility. Trans stories are being attacked. And it's never about the books - it's about what the books represent. The ultimate free expression - celebrating who you are. https://pen.org/banned-books-transgender-stories/

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