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.
Concern Raised Over Cancellation of Panel at Anthropology Meeting
(NEW YORK)— Last week, the American Anthropological Association (AAA) and the Canadian Anthropology Society (CASCA) removed a panel from their annual meeting program, set to take place next month in… More
Fear that New Texas Policy Will Limit Books Allowed in Prisons
(NEW YORK)— Without notification, the Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) has apparently implemented an “approved vendor” policy for its prisons, a type of censorship that PEN America opposes… More
Banned Books Week 2023 Open Letter and Call to Action: We Believe in the Freedom to Read
For Banned Books Week 2023, PEN America and We Believe gathered a consortium of publishers and nonprofit organizations to rally behind the freedom to read with an open letter.… More
On Fifth Anniversary of Jamal Khashoggi’s Murder, PEN America Decries Continuing Lack of Justice
The plot against Khashoggi was never just about silencing one individual; it was a direct attack on freedom of expression and the written word more broadly, and the impunity… More
Life Prison Sentence for Turkish Cultural Rights Activist Osman Kavala is Upheld
Turkish court’s decision upholding the life sentence against Osman Kavala illustrates the totality of the government’s crackdown on free expression and the breakdown of rule of law. Life behind… More
PEN America Celebrates Translators for Bridging Divisions Through Words
Translators are indispensable allies in our quest to cultivate communication among diverse peoples and culture. The help us develop a collective vision of a world anchored in human rights.… More
Hollywood Artists Join Writers for Banned Books Week Day of Action Oct. 7
(NEW YORK)—More than 20 actors, writers, and artists are joining together to spread the word about book bans by creating videos about their favorite banned books, a project spearheaded… More
Amid Crisis of School Book Bans, Banned Books Week Arrives Oct. 1 with Urgency to Defend the Freedom to Read
LINK to the PEN America Banned Books Week actions and events (NEW YORK)— With school book bans surging 33 percent over the past school year, this year’s Banned Books Week Oct.… More
Support for Congressional Resolutions Condemning Book Bans and Educational Censorship
(Washington) – As the movement to ban books and censor classrooms continues to undermine free speech and academic freedom across our nation’s public schools, Representative Jamie Raskin on Wednesday… More
PEN America Proudly Supports Introduction of Congressional Resolutions Condemning Book Bans and Educational Censorship
PEN America endorsed the resolution and praised the lawmakers’ commitment to preserving free expression in classrooms and libraries. More