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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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
Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Narges Mohammadi Handed an Additional Sentence for “Propaganda”
"Freedom of expression is both a human right and a human instinct which can not be extinguished. It is time that the Iranian authorities stopped persecuting artists, writers, and… More
Cancellation of Samia Halaby Exhibition at Indiana University Represents “An Alarming Affront to Free Expression,” Says PEN America
PEN America urgently calls on the Eskenazi Museum of Art at Indiana University (IU) to reinstate the retrospective exhibition of Palestinian artist, Samia Halaby. More
Call for Indiana University to Reinstate Professor After Suspension for Event with Israeli-American Writer-Activist
Jonathan Friedman, PEN America’s director of the Free Expression and Education team, said: “It’s difficult to see this as anything but an extreme overreaction. While the university was right… More
In Win For Free Expression, Judge Rules Lawsuit Challenging Escambia County, FL Book Bans Can Move Forward
Katie Blankenship, director of PEN America’s Florida office, issued the following statement: “Today, we urged the court to vindicate the Constitutional rights of students, parents, authors and publishers. We are… More
Iranian Musician Mehdi Yarrahi Sentenced to Lashes and Two Years Imprisonment
Mehdi Yarrahi’s disproportionate conviction is further proof of the power of art as Iranian authorities continue to persecute artists, musicians, filmmakers, and writers. More
Oral Arguments Set for 1/10 on Groundbreaking Federal Lawsuit Challenging Book Bans in Florida
Katie Blankenship, PEN America’s Florida director, said: “School libraries are not state propaganda centers. They are meant to be sites of inquiry, where students can encounter a diverse range… More
Artist-Activist Ai Weiwei in Conversation with Author and Cultural Critic Mira Jacob on 1/23 in New York City
From personal experience as an artist who has been persecuted for criticizing the state, Ai Weiwei has a deep understanding of why creative and free expression matters so deeply. More