The 2016 presumptive presidential candidates of the Democratic and Republican parties have been presented with a petition. This petition calls for Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump to “end attacks on journalists and create an open environment for reporters at the upcoming Republican and Democratic national conventions.”

Suzanne Nossel, the executive director of PEN America, gave this statement in the press release: “A free press undergirds our democracy, offering a direct link between the candidates and the electorate they seek to serve. The barring of journalists from access to the campaigns they are covering and the harassment and threats made in retaliation for unwelcome stories stand in the way of journalists trying to do their job. The party conventions must guarantee reporters access to the candidates and the proceedings without interference.”

PEN America established a partnership with The Nation, People for the American Way, Free Press, In These Times, the Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Without Borders, The Intercept, The Progressive, and other groups for this endeavor. This petition has been signed by more than 20,000 Americans. Some of the authors who added their signatures include Judy Blume, Neil Gaiman, Lois Lowry, John Green, and Khaled Hosseini. The 2016 Republican National Convention takes place from July 18 to July 21 in Cleveland, OH. The 2016 Democratic National Convention will take place from July 25 to July 28 in Philadelphia, PA.