Ayad Akhtar to Assume Presidency of PEN America
PEN America today announced that Pulitzer-winning playwright, novelist, and screenwriter Ayad Akhtar will serve as the next president of PEN America, poised to lead the organization in its mission… More
A Coronavirus Update from PEN America
As the world faces a global health crisis, we at PEN America are encountering uncharted territory. More
PEN America Launches Free Speech 2020
(New York, NY) – Today PEN America launches Free Speech 2020, a yearlong initiative to mobilize writers and readers to elevate free speech issues and defend free expression throughout… More
First Forum of European and Asian PEN Centers
A convening of PEN centers in Kyrgyzstan took place with authors and journalists from regional countries discussing literature and free expression. More
DARE: Hope Hicks: Close Trump Aide and White House Communications Chief Resigns
White House Communications Director Hope Hicks to step down. President Trump takes to Twitter to excoriate Attorney General Jeff Sessions for failing to launch his own investigation into alleged… More
Alert Us
Are you an artist at risk or know someone who is?
PEN America On 
"Like most Americans, you might believe books have a settled status in our culture—that even if they contain sexual material, they’re protected by the #FirstAmendment," writes @dankois.
Now, Republicans in VA are asking a judge to change US obscenity law. https://slate.com/culture/2022/08/book-banning-republicans-gender-queer-obscenity-supreme-court.html
“When we read these books... everyone is in agreement that (they) are very educational and should be allowed in our classrooms,” says Vandegrift High School Banned Book Club co-founder Alyssa Hoy. "They start very tough conversations that need to be had.” https://nextcity.org/urbanist-news/how-teens-are-pushing-back-on-book-bans
A teacher in Florida wanted to inspire Black children with pictures of Martin Luther King Jr., Harriet Tubman, Colin Powell and George Washington Carver.
He has resigned because, he alleges, a district employee removed the pictures as "age inappropriate."
https://www.pnj.com/story/news/local/escambia-county/2022/08/10/escambia-county-florida-teacher-said-pictures-black-american-leaders-removed-his-class/10276112002
