PEN America Lauds Resolution in Congress Marking April as “Preserving and Protecting Local News Month”
“Throughout our nation’s history, local news has been a bulwark for holding power to account and advancing a pluralistic democracy that represents and includes all, irrespective of their background… More
PEN America: U.S. Ban on TikTok Takes a “Sledgehammer” Approach to the Challenge of Security and Safety Concerns Online
“Banning TikTok establishes an alarming precedent for addressing legitimate privacy and security risks posed by social media platforms,” said Laura Schroeder, Congressional Affairs lead. “The House has taken a… More
PEN America Urges Passage of Landmark Legislation Protecting Human Rights Defenders Abroad
“Human rights defenders work tirelessly to realize the promise of representative democracy and equal justice and serve as the conscience of their societies. They should not have to live… More
U.S. House Probe of Harvard U Should be Carried Out with “Great Restraint,” Respect for Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy
“This investigation is turning into a fishing expedition,” said Jeremy Young, director, Freedom to Learn program at PEN America. “The charges of antisemitism at Harvard are serious and demand… More
PEN America Applauds Reintroduction of the Saving Local News Act
“The retreat of local news across the country has starved Americans of information necessary for effective democratic citizenship,” said Interim Washington Director Hadar Harris. “By easing news organizations’ ability… More
House Passes First Federal Bill Shielding Journalists from Revealing Sources
House bill, H.R.4250, known as the PRESS Act (for Protect Reporters from Excessive Suppression Act) is “integral to protect journalists in reporting freely without fear of retaliation or court-ordered… More
PEN America: Calls for Genocide Have No Place in Reasoned Campus DIscourse
“Calls for genocide have no place in reasoned discourse. But, abhorrent as such a hypothetical may be, the First Amendment’s protections for speech extend even to deeply hateful speech,… More
PEN America Endorses “Fight Book Bans Act” Introduced in Congress To Help School Districts with Financial Burden of Book Bans
Laura Schroeder, Congressional affairs lead for PEN America, said: “Banning books in schools is not only unpopular; it’s expensive. As school districts around the country divert resources to address… More
On Anniversary of Mahsa Amini Protests, U.S. Congress Affirms Support for Women’s Rights in Iran
“In the year since Mahsa (Jina) Amini’s death, Iranian women in particular have continued to bravely use their voices to speak out against the abuses of the Iranian government.… More
PEN America: House Committee’s Decision to Disinvite Human Rights Expert from Testifying Runs Contrary to “Legitimate Interests”
Summer Lopez, chief program officer for free expression at PEN America, said: "The House Committee on Education and Workforce's decision to disinvite Sophie Richardson from testifying due to her… More