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].
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PEN America Names Katie Blankenship to New Position as Florida Director
“Katie is the proven leader and advocate we need to expand our effort to protect the freedoms to read and learn in Florida,” said PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel.… More
Global Pop Icon P!nk Teams Up with PEN America to Give Away 2,000 Banned Books at Florida Concerts
Pop icon Pink is teaming up with PEN America and Books & Books to give away 2,000 banned books at her upcoming concerts in Florida. More
PEN America Urges Texas School to Reverse Decision to Kick Trans Student Out of Lead Role in Musical Oklahoma!
“This is a cruel decision guided by a ‘criteria’ that the district admits is applied unevenly. It is yet another example of threats to free expression for LGBTQ+ students,… More
Deep Concern Over Arrest of Author Ahed Tamimi in West Bank, Reportedly Over Social Media Posts
We are deeply concerned about reports that she is being held in incommunicado detention without charge. Tamimi's detention on the basis of protected expression cannot be justified; we urge… More
New Report: Legislatures Introduce 110 Educational Gag Orders in 2023
“Censorship advocates have spent years trying to sabotage the teaching of ideas they don't like, and imposing their own views on our nation's students,” said PEN America’s Jeremy C.… More
Brandeis U Revokes Recognition of Student Palestine Group Without Citing Any Violations of Policies
“Private universities ought to uphold robust protections for students’ free expression and association. Even if they are not subject to the First Amendment, private universities like Brandeis have rightfully… More
Strong Civil Society Effort Key to Advancing Georgia’s EU Candidacy
As Georgia advances a step closer to European Union membership, PEN America applauds Georgia's civil society's unwavering commitment to free expression and human rights. More
Call for Israeli Authorities to Show Evidence for Detention of Author Ahed Tamimi
“Our partner Penguin Random House/One World has expressed strong concerns to us that their author, Ahed Tamimi, has been arrested in the West Bank on the basis of antisemitic and hateful… More
More Than 300 Book Titles Banned by Collier County, FL, Including Literary Classics by Aldous Huxley, Ralph Ellison and Joseph Heller
“We are saddened for the students of Collier County Public Schools that so many titles, including renowned literary classics and contemporary young adult works are banned from student access,”… More
Sotoudeh’s Injuries at the Hands of Iranian Police More Severe Than Initially Believed
America expresses its great concern about the health and safety of human rights lawyer, writer, and 2011 PEN/Freedom To Write Award honoree Nasrin Sotoudeh. More