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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Journalist Emilio Gutiérrez-Soto’s Release from Detention Is an Important Step in His Fight for Asylum
"It appears that Emilio Gutierrez was singled out for adverse action by the federal government for exercising his right to free expression—for criticizing the controversial immigration policies of the… More
Dismissal of Israeli Cartoonist Avi Katz is an Unacceptable Attack on Free Expression
“To punish satire is to muzzle the most creative, trenchant and arresting form of political commentary. Katz’s dismissal is an unacceptable attack on the rights of journalists and artists… More
Journalist Banned from White House Briefing a Dangerous Escalation of the War on the Press
"Yesterday's actions make clear that the President's insults and threats are not idle, but rather represent a concerted tactic to evade and thwart hard-hitting coverage aimed to hold the… More
Sessions’ Remarks Present a Misleading Depiction of Students’ Attitudes to Free Expression on Campus
"Sessions' harsh description of students as 'sanctimonious' snowflakes and his one-sided list of examples of speech infringements miscast the argument in ways that will only deepen the rancor over… More
Detention of Southern Mongolian Author is Putting Historical Inquiry on Trial
Summer Lopez: “By arresting Borjigin, the authorities are in fact putting historical inquiry on trial. If prosecutors indeed bring charges against Borjigin, they are showing that they consider historical documentation to… More
Russia’s Proposed “Fake News” Bill More Likely to Restrict Free Expression Online
Polina Kovaleva: “Efforts to enforce third party liability always raise difficult questions from a free expression perspective, even when the motive is to tackle legitimately fraudulent news and information.” More
Acquittal of Award-Winning Journalist in Angola is a Victory for Press Freedom
“This verdict is a victory for freedom of expression, as well as a vindication of Rafael Marques’ work. While it is regrettable that the case had to come to… More
Upcoming Trial of William Nguyen an Appalling Attempt to Frame Peaceful Protest as a Dangerous Crime
“Peacefully participating in and documenting a protest should not be considered a criminal activity. We urge the court to show Nguyen justice and drop the charges against him, and… More
PEN/ Robert W. Bingham Prize to Celebrate Debut Short Story Collection
“With the generous support of the Bingham family, we are able to honor the promising and ambitious works of exemplary debut short story writers and support them as they… More
PEN America Calls for Release of Russian Political Prisoners on Eve of Putin/Trump Meeting
"Oleg Sentsov has already become a symbol. And now, when we say ‘Free Sentsov,’ we really mean free all political prisoners in Russia." More