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.
Shortlisted for an Oscar, Syrian Filmmaker Denied U.S. Travel Visa
“The denial of Fayyad’s visa shows how the travel ban continues to disrupt and prevent the free flow of artists and ideas across borders, in the process undermining a… More
Arrest of Writer and Translator Arash Ganji Is an Unwarranted Attack on Freedom of Expression in Iran
“The Iranian authorities have blatantly targeted Arash Ganji for his writing and work to foster free expression and cross-cultural literary understanding." More
PEN America Calls for Immediate Release of Chinese Artist Arrested for Supporting Hong Kong Protesters
“ The arrest of Yang Licai is an assault on free speech and artistic freedom. It’s part of an alarming crackdown against Chinese activists and artists involved in pro-democracy… More
Writers Freed As Part of Ukraine Prisoner Swap
PEN America said it was immensely relieved that two journalists, Stanislav Aseyev and Oleh Halaziuk, were freed as part of a broader prisoner exchange in Ukraine on Sunday. More
Professor Suspended for Sharing Student Videos With Offensive Content
“Punishing a professor for showing videos in class, even offensive ones, is out of bounds." More
Trump Order Designed to Fight Anti-Semitism Risks Chilling Free Speech
"President Trump would better serve the nation by enforcing existing laws, reining in his own propensity to invoke anti-Semitic tropes, and adopting a zero-tolerance policy toward anti-Semitism among his… More
Blocking Trump Critic From NATO Conference “Inherently Undemocratic”
“To prevent Sloane from speaking based on the free expression of his political views flies in the face of the longstanding diplomatic tradition of modeling U.S. values for the… More
PEN America: Kansas Prison Book Ban Repeats State’s Prior Mistakes
“Kansas’ decision to eliminate their banned books list seemed like something to celebrate. But this new list of banned books suggests a Pyrrhic victory." More
PEN America Condemns Abusive “Investigation” Into Moscow-Based Theater
“The artists at Teatr.Doc, who have already suffered after the recent deaths of two of their founders, are now forced to suffer through an entirely fabricated investigation.” More
PEN America Condemns Renewed Saudi Crackdown Against Journalists, Activists
“The current wave of arrests reminds us that far from ceasing their brutal crackdown on free expression, the Saudi government is feeling emboldened to harass and detain even more… More
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