PEN America Finds Surge in Anti-Protest Bills as State Legislators Escalate First Amendment Crackdown
State lawmakers across the country have accelerated their crackdown on constitutionally-protected protests, proposing a wave of legislation over the past year that would heap fines, fees, and criminal penalties… More
Student Activist Arrested After Reading Poem Wins Key First Amendment Victory
"The victory for Mr. Bello is a victory for anyone who may hope to use their words to propel social change.” More
Kenosha Authorities Must Commit to Protecting Protesters
PEN America is calling for public authorities in Kenosha, WI to ensure protesters are safe and protected in the wake of Tuesday night's fatal shooting and the arrest of… More
PEN America Signs Letter Condemning Federal Law Enforcement Targeting Protesters
"The peaceful exercise of one's First Amendment rights, on any side of the political spectrum should never be met with the government targeting them." More
PEN America Chapters Call on City Leaders to Protect First Amendment
"Mayors and police chiefs have a responsibility to their communities to ensure that the First Amendment rights of protesters and journalists are guaranteed." More
PEN America Files Legal Brief Calling for Release of Student Detained for Reading Poem
“No one should go to jail for reading a poem." More
President Trump Offers Pretext for Visa Social Media Policy
Ferreting out the pretext those in power use to mask their motivations is not an exercise of idle speculation but crucial to defending free expression. More
PEN America: ICE Arrest of Activist for Reciting Poem Criticizing Immigration Policy Raises “Serious Concern”
PEN America raises alarm that ICE’s arrest of student and activist Jose Bello—less than 36 hours after Bello publicly recited a poem criticizing the immigration system—over his free speech rights and… More
Supreme Court Ruling in Manhattan Community Access Corporation v. Halleck Lays Down Marker on Questions of Liability of Private Acts for First Amendment Violations
The Supreme Court ruling in Manhattan Community Access Corp. v. Halleck could have implications for questions of company liability for the content shared on media platforms. At a moment… More
Julian Assange Indictment Raises Grave Concerns for Press Freedom in the U.S.
"By bringing charges under the Espionage Act for actions that include receiving and publishing information and documents, the Department of Justice is setting a dangerous precedent that could be wielded against journalists and… More
Alert Us
Are you an artist at risk or know someone who is?
PEN America On 
AP English instructor assigned the book 'So You've Been Publicly Shamed' by @jonronson; parents complained over its content; and now the principal is being terminated over it.
https://www.12news.com/amp/article/news/education/paradise-valley-school-district-votes-to-terminate-horizon-principals-contract-following-controversial-book/75-3400972d-3e16-4083-9cfc-91ac887cd491?fbclid=IwAR32dnA4Duj72g652DCCKHbtOTDcUMKgAgF6h4H4c5wKc4_uo7BRGZarXjg
Authors! Book bans are surging across the country. This surge is not random. It has in part been driven by organized online forums and even some political campaigns. If your book has been challenged, here’s a thread on what you can do. #bannedbooks #freadom #booktwitter
