Update on Mon. March 3
(WASHINGTON)— In response to a White House executive order declaring English as the country’s official language, PEN America released the following statement:
“Declaring one language as the official language of the United States is a fundamental affront to the founding democratic ideals of this country. The richness of America comes from the diversity of the people who live here, the cultures they celebrate, and the languages they use. Just as there has never been an official religion of the United States, there has also been no official language— part of the vision of this country since its founding. More than 350 languages are spoken throughout the United States. Restricting language access in courts, voting places, government websites, or schools would strip access to hundreds of thousands of people and severely infringe on their freedom of speech. We call for a celebration of language, not a narrowing of it.”
About PEN America
PEN America stands at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect free expression in the United States and worldwide. We champion the freedom to write, recognizing the power of the word to transform the world. Our mission is to unite writers and their allies to celebrate creative expression and defend the liberties that make it possible. Learn more at pen.org.
Contact: Suzanne Trimel, [email protected], (201) 247-5057