Barack Obama Receives 2020 PEN America Voice of Influence Award, Re-Embraces His Identity as a Writer
“My politics, my public life, and my more interior writing life have never been that far apart," More
“James Baldwin Didn’t Have to Go Out and Get Votes.” Obama Reflects on Race, Dialogue, and Disinformation in PEN America Interview
In an interview with PEN America, President Obama reflects on race, dialogue, and disinformation as the country confronts a new political future. More
PEN America Announces Detained Chinese Essayist Xu Zhiyong as 2020 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award Honoree
"His essays have served as calls to conscience at pivotal moments in China’s recent history." More
PEN America: China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey Are World’s Worst Jailers of Writers
"The Index spotlights governments’ nefarious will to suppress truth and control the public mind by silencing writers who dare challenge authority." More
Egypt Going to Extreme Lengths to Quash Dissent, Imprisoning Writers as Part of Broader Crackdown
“The Sisi regime is engaged in a desperate but nonetheless brutal attempt to silence even the slightest expression of dissent." More
Read Oleg Sentsov’s Acceptance Letter from the Solidarity of Arts Festival
"It's easy to be a revolutionary when revolution has already won. And much more difficult when the oppressor is still strong and the chances to win are small." More
Saudi Activist Rejects Deal to Recant Torture Allegations
“This attempt at coercion is a pathetic effort by the Saudi state to use propaganda to paper over its dire human rights reputation." More
He Is Not Forgotten: Celebrating Oleg Sentsov’s Birthday, His Sixth in Captivity
PEN America congratulates Oleg Sentsov on his 43rd birthday, which serves as a reminder to the world not to forget him in his plight. More
SIGN NOW: Demand Charges be Dropped Against Three Saudi Writer-Activists
Sign the petition to call on the Saudi Arabian government to drop all charges against these courageous writer-activists and 2019 Freedom to Write awardees. More
Writer, Activist, and 2019 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award Honoree Eman Al-Nafjan’s Release a Ray of Hope for Justice
"The PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award has for decades been a powerful tool to pry free courageous writers who take the greatest risks in order to express themselves. While… More
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TODAY: Tune in at 4:30PM ET to hear our director of free expression and education Jonathan Friedman (@jzfriedman) discuss educational solutions for schools and colleges for the @LeFrakForum's conference on free speech on campus. Register here: https://bit.ly/3rOa7ZD.
