Photojournalist Shahidul Alam’s Ongoing Police Investigation Must End
After the High Court of Bangladesh rejected a petition from renowned photojournalist Shahidul Alam challenging the legality of criminal charges against him, PEN America again called for charges against… More
The PEN Pod: On Platforms, Policing, and Protests with Suzanne Nossel
“As a defender of free speech, I believe those protections shouldn’t stop at the locker room door, and that athletes should be entitled to voice their opinions.” More
Cracking Down on Creative Voices: Turkey’s Silencing of Writers, Intellectuals, and Artists Five Years After the Failed Coup
PEN America outlines the legal mechanisms that the Turkish government has used to silence writers, activists, artists, academics, and creative professionals. More
Closing Ranks: State Legislators Deepen Assaults on the Right to Protest
State policymakers have introduced at least 100 proposals since June 2020 to reduce the scope of Americans’ right to protest, PEN America research finds. More
The PEN Pod: On Conflicts of Interest between Free Expression and Powerful Institutions with Suzanne Nossel
“The most heartening piece of it is that the people of Myanmar, who for so many years lived under such brutal repression. . . They’re incredibly brave to take… More
The PEN Pod: The Propagation of Disinformation and Protocols of Protest with Suzanne Nossel
“It’s an ecosystem—a dysfunctional, polluted ecosystem. Within that ecosystem, among the most powerful actors—no question about it—are the social media companies.” More
The PEN Pod: The Right to Protest and Vaccine Hesitancy with Suzanne Nossel
“The introduction of this sweeping anti-protest legislation that restricts where you can protest. . . really runs counter to freedom of assembly rights.” More
The PEN Pod: On Political Ads, the Children’s Canon, and Ongoing Crackdowns in Myanmar with Suzanne Nossel
“While there was a democratic interlude and democratic norms were taking hold [in Myanmar], it was even more fragile than I think anybody quite realized.” More
Journalism and COVID-19: Free Press Threatened
This page focuses on incidents of free press threats that have a direct relation to the coronavirus, including attacks/harassment and censorship. More
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PEN America On 
Moscow, Idaho: "University employees who are found to violate (#Idaho's) new gag rule, either by 'promoting' abortion, or by dispensing contraception, risk felony convictions, prison time, fines, firing and permanent bans from all state employment." https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2022/oct/03/university-of-idaho-abortion-emergency-contraception
Great piece by @MBourjaily @educationweek on how teachers who can speak up, should speak up. References our America's Censored Classrooms report @PENamerica. https://www.edweek.org/policy-politics/opinion-some-politicians-count-on-teachers-staying-silent-we-cant-afford-to/2022/10
A milestone today in US free speech & LGBTQ history. 👇 "Howl" by Allen Ginsberg ruled not obscene and effectively un-banned. The poem in full: https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/49303/howl https://twitter.com/Ginsbergpoem/status/1576948354218885120