The PEN Pod: On the Power of Poetry with Natasha Trethewey
“Poetry can save us. It can, in many ways, unite us because of the sheer intimacy of a single voice that might reach someone.” More
India: Letter in Support of Imprisoned Writer P. Varavara Rao
PEN America urgres India Prime Minister Narendra Modi to immediately release imprisoned poet P. Varavara Rao, along with the Elgar Parishad activists. More
Free Expression Digest: Mon., January 18
Plane leaves Iran with Post reporter, Moroccan journalist released from prison, Two sentenced poets flee Iran. More
Iran: Another Poet’s Arrest Signals Creation of Repressive Blueprint for Free Expression
The arrest of poet Hila Sedighi in Tehran this week marks an acceleration in Iran’s crackdown on provocative cultural figures as the country prepares for elections next month. More
Petition Urges Ayatollah to Pardon Condemned Iranian Poets
Two Iranian poets sentenced to long prison terms and floggings have vaulted to international literary prominence over their prosecution, which appears to reflect a tough new crackdown on rights… More
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PEN America On 
Professors at public universities have no right to #FreedomOfSpeech when they teach, say lawyers for the State of Florida.
Many academics describe Florida’s stance as a direct, troubling attack on #academicfreedom. Some have even called it fascist. https://www.chronicle.com/article/its-not-clear-whether-public-college-professors-have-first-amendment-rights-when-theyre-teaching
Some people hate Banned books week so much they're not only banning it in schools but calling police on it in libraries. https://www.foxcarolina.com/2022/09/27/police-called-library-investigate-obscene-material/
Notice that there is at least an entire generation of high school students who can't even have these books considered as part of their educational opportunities. Not at all. 5 years. And that's if school administration doesn't feel silenced to even ask. https://twitter.com/jonfreadom/status/1575111942586667008