Accusation That ‘Cuties’ Crosses Legal Lines ‘Patently False’
"While people are free to criticize the film's depiction of children in provocative clothing and dance performances, the claim that this fictional film transgresses legal lines is patently false." More
Texas University Calls on State AG to Investigate Professor’s Speech
“While Professor Jun’s Facebook comment may sound extreme when read literally, this is clearly an instance of extramural political commentary—protected speech for which Jun should certainly not face a… More
Local Journalist Heroes: Keri Blakinger
“There are just more prisons and jails than there are reporters to cover them right now.” More
Local Journalist Heroes: Texas Observer Staff
“We are constantly looking for stories that have been overshadowed or communities that are under-covered—and unfortunately, those are often among the most vulnerable.” More
Bookstores Across America, Vol. One: A Roundup of Ways to Support Indie Bookstores
With independent bookstores forced to shut their doors due to the global pandemic, we reached out to booksellers to ask them how readers can support their favorite stores while… More
Alert Us
Are you an artist at risk or know someone who is?
PEN America On 
Jailed Vietnamese democracy advocate Tran Huynh Duy Thuc has launched a new hunger strike, his second in the last two months, demanding that his 16-year sentence for subversion be reduced in line with a law enacted after he was sentenced. https://bit.ly/3g2zqTE
Jimmy Lai, the founder of Hong Kong’s biggest pro-democracy newspaper, was denied bail on fraud charges on Thursday and ordered jailed until April by a court. https://nyti.ms/2JMGdo8