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: Characterizing Jan. 6 as “Legitimate Political Discourse” Is Perverse and Invites More Violence
The characterization of the January 6, 2021 storming of the U.S. Capitol as "legitimate political discourse" is perverse, and constitutes an open invitation to an escalation of violence in… More
Through Suspensions for Offensive Speech, ABC News and Georgetown University Must Avoid Chilling Open Discourse
PEN America has issued the following statement today from CEO Suzanne Nossel in response to two separate cases of offensive remarks that made headlines and caused an outcry; one… More
Seth Meyers to host 2022 PEN America Literary Awards live and in-person, February 28 at New York City’s Town Hall
PEN America announces writer and Emmy Award-winning late night host Seth Meyers as the host for the organization’s 2022 Literary Awards, which return this year as an in-person event… More
PEN America Condemns Arbitrary Detention of Prominent Cuban Artist/Art Historian Carolina Barrero
(New York, NY) - PEN America and PEN International are deeply alarmed by the detention of the Cuban artist, activist and art historian Carolina Barrero, who was arrested on… More
PEN America Announces Finalists for 2022 Literary Awards, February 28 at New York’s Town Hall
PEN America today announced the 2022 PEN America Literary Awards finalists—a list of 54 authors and 11 translators recognized for exceptional works of fiction, nonfiction, poetry, biography, essay, science… More
PEN America Urges Wisconsin Legislators to Reject Anti-Protest Bill
PEN America warned that a pending bill could gravely endanger the right to protest. SB 296/AB 279 would define “riot” so broadly that anyone present at a protest where… More
PEN America Welcomes British Court Ruling on Julian Assange Appeal
“Today’s decision in the ongoing Assange case is a reprieve, but the specter remains of prosecution in the U.S. based on an indictment that encompasses conduct regularly and rightfully… More
RIGHTS GROUPS APPEAL TO UN FOR RELEASE OF JAILED IRANIAN WRITERS
The Raoul Wallenberg Centre for Human Rights (RWCHR) and PEN America filed a complaint with the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention to hold Iran accountable for a pattern… More
PEN America: Civil Charges Against British Journalist Cadwalladr Are An Effort to Silence Her
Civil defamation charges against the Guardian journalist and author Carol Cadwalladr are an attempt to silence her reporting by weaponizing the judicial system against her, PEN America said today.… More
Literary Coalition Asks New York Leaders to Prevent Lyrics From Becoming Evidence In Criminal Trials
Today PEN America and the Literary Action Coalition sent a letter signed by 21 key New York City literary organizations to New York State legislators in support of “Rap… More