(NEW YORK)— PEN America today signed a statement from the American Council of Learned Societies expressing concern about university leaders’ response to recent campus protests.

“While administrators have every right and duty to secure the safety of their campus communities,” the statement reads in part, “suppressing the expression of unpopular or uncomfortable ideas by students or faculty engaged in peaceful protest does not do justice to the values at the heart of the university.”

“We are grateful for the opportunity to sign this ACLS statement. Preserving free expression on campus requires protecting the right to protest peacefully. Unfortunately, protecting this right has not always happened on campuses this year,” said Kristen Shahverdian, Campus Free Speech program director at PEN America.

Read the full statement from ACLS here.

Read PEN America’s statement on campus protests here.

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