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 Condemns Detention of Iranian Dissident Rapper Vafa Ahmadpour
PEN America’s Artists at Risk Connection (ARC) strongly condemns the arbitrary detention of Iranian rapper Vafa Ahmadpour and calls for his immediate release. More
New Effort by Florida Lawmakers to Undermine Press Freedom is an Attack on Democracy Itself
Katie Blankenship, director of PEN America’s Florida office, said: “These bills seek to instill fear in journalists and their sources, chilling constitutionally protected speech. HB 757 and SB 1780… More
PEN America Condemns Suspended Death Sentence for Australian Writer Jailed in China
PEN America condemns a Chinese court’s decision to give novelist, pro-democracy blogger, and political commentator Yang Hengjun a suspended death sentence. More
PEN America Statement on the Disruption of a Los Angeles Book Event by Protests
Allison Lee, Los Angeles director of PEN America said, “PEN America is a big tent organization that values, supports, and creates dialogue, including among writers who hold wide-ranging points… More
Russia Places Best-Selling Novelist Boris Akunin on its Wanted List
(NEW YORK) -- PEN America condemns the Russian government for placing London-based Grigory Chkhartishvili, better known under his pen name Boris Akunin, on its wanted list for alleged criminal… More
New Policies at American University Undermine Free Expression on Campus
PEN America’s Kristen Shahverdian, senior manager on the Free Expression and Education team, said: “Clamping down on free expression in the name of inclusion is an insult to both… More
PEN America Partners with Ukraine National Pavilion for Venice Biennale
The Artists at Risk Connection and PEN America are pleased to support the vital work of the six Ukrainian artists featured in the Ukrainian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale. More
House Passes First Federal Bill Shielding Journalists from Revealing Sources
House bill, H.R.4250, known as the PRESS Act (for Protect Reporters from Excessive Suppression Act) is “integral to protect journalists in reporting freely without fear of retaliation or court-ordered… More
PEN America Expresses Relief Over Court Injunction Against Texas Law Requiring Sexual Ratings for School Books
“Booksellers are essential in advancing the freedom to read for all. Blocking the implementation of HB 900 will help ensure authors can reach Texas audiences and bookstores can distribute… More
PEN America Publishes Safety Guide for Russian-Speaking Artists at Risk
PEN America’s Artists at Risk Connection's (ARC) highly anticipated Russian translation of its Artists Safety Guide launched today. More