Press Releases
PEN America experts are available for interviews with the press. Please direct inquiries to Suzanne Trimel, Senior Advisor, Communications and Media, at [email protected].
At a time of unprecedented attacks against the free press, PEN America Members are taking action. Join us today.
Accusation That ‘Cuties’ Crosses Legal Lines ‘Patently False’
"While people are free to criticize the film's depiction of children in provocative clothing and dance performances, the claim that this fictional film transgresses legal lines is patently false." More
Arrest of Vietnamese Writer is Escalation in Attempts to Quash Independent Political Thought
"Knowing the power of her work, Trang has firmly upheld her belief in human rights principles, even amidst constant judicial and physical retaliation from the Vietnamese government." More
PEN America Heartened at Release of Narges Mohammadi
“We are deeply heartened to be celebrating Narges Mohammadi’s freedom from prison today after more than five years behind bars." More
PEN America Congratulates Louise Glück on Nobel Prize
“It is a wonderful day to celebrate the beauty and power of poetry to remind us what it means to simply be human in times like these." More
Texas University Calls on State AG to Investigate Professor’s Speech
“While Professor Jun’s Facebook comment may sound extreme when read literally, this is clearly an instance of extramural political commentary—protected speech for which Jun should certainly not face a… More
Executive Order on Race and Sex Stereotyping is Chilling Free Expression
"This is an assault on the essential freedom protected under the First Amendment—not just to speak but to receive information, to debate ideas freely and without fear of punishment,… More
Iran Unjustly Jails Three Writers Amid Pandemic
"Forcing Baktash Abtin, Keyvan Bajan, and Reza Khandan-Mahabadi behind bars while the COVID-19 pandemic continues to sweep through Iran’s prisons is not only a blatant and appalling violation of… More
Arrest of PEN Belarus Member Represents Another Attack on Cultural Leaders
"These disgraceful, ongoing attacks on people exercising their basic rights to expression and peaceful protest must end." More
Michigan Professor Fired Over Use of Racial, Homophobic Slurs
"Racial and homophobic slurs invoke historical trauma...That said, it is unfortunate that CMU has responded to this case by taking the extreme step of firing a tenured professor." More
DHS Proposed Visa Rule Change “Xenophobic and Cruel”
"By setting arbitrarily strict limits on visa terms for a range of foreign nationals, this is yet another move by the Trump administration to hinder international exchange, as well… More
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