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 Urges Missouri Schools to Keep the Holocaust Graphic Novel ‘Maus’ on Shelves
“We haven’t learned much from the past, but there's some things you should be able to figure out," Art Spiegelman told PEN America. "Book burning leads to people burning.… More
”Outrageous Government Censorship,” Says PEN America, About Removal of Ta-Nehisi Coates’ Memoir from South Carolina AP Course
Jeremy C. Young, freedom to learn program director, said: “This is an outrageous act of government censorship and a textbook example of how educational gag orders corrupt free inquiry… More
PEN America and 3 Other Free Speech Groups File Amicus Brief in 1st Amendment Herndon v. Netflix Case
Kate Ruane, Sy Syms director of the U.S. Free Expression programs at PEN America, said: “Understandably it is difficult to adhere to principles when faced with a tragedy like… More
Artist Coalition Day of Action 6/15 in New York City Advocates for Robust Online Protections for Artists
ARC Director Julie Trebault said: “Artists rely on social media to promote their work, connect with followers, and earn a living. Unfortunately, art is arbitrarily suppressed or taken down… More
PEN America: “Regrettable” that Elizabeth Gilbert Delayed Publication of New Novel Set in Russia
"It is regrettable that Elizabeth Gilbert felt it necessary to delay the publication of a novel set in Russia. Ukrainians have suffered immeasurably, and Gilbert's decision in the face of online… More
PEN America Condemns Transnational Repression of Chinese Political Cartoonist Badiucao in Poland
“Chinese authorities have long targeted Badiucao for his political cartoons and artworks protesting the extreme human rights violations levied against its citizens and in Hong Kong,” said Artists at… More
PEN America Calls for Immediate Release of Iranian Cartoonist Arrested After Posting a Satirical Cartoon on Instagram
“Cartoonists should not be persecuted for their creative expression. We are deeply concerned for thewell being of Farghadani, whose arbitrary arrest is indicative of the Iranian authorities’ increasingly abusive… More
White House Announcement of Anti-Book Ban Coordinator Treats Crisis with Deserved Seriousness
PEN America’s Washington Managing Director Nadine Farid Johnson issued the following statement on Thursday: “The growing movement to ban books—especially books focused on the experiences of people of color and… More
PEN America Welcomes NY Corrections Department Decision to Rescind “Unjustifiable” Proposal to Limit Free Expression for Incarcerated Writers
Moira Marquis, senior manager of PEN America’s Freewrite Project, said: “Any effort to crush the right of incarcerated people to express themselves, and in particular, to limit literacy and… More
Decision Not to Renew Lone US History Professor’s Contract at New College of Florida— in Effect, Firing Him— Is “An Affront to Academic Freedom,” Says PEN America
Jeremy C. Young, Freedom to Learn program director at PEN America, released the following statement: “The effective firing of Erik Wallenberg, after his job was threatened publicly by a trustee… More