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PEN America is at the forefront of the fight to defend free expression, artistic freedom, and the free press in the United States and beyond. We research and report the challenges, host educational and advocacy events, draft op-eds, pressure governments and other powerful forces, and provide support to individual writers and artists at risk.
But for free expression to flourish, writers and readers everywhere must rise to the challenge of defending it, for all people. Please, join us by taking action below.
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Advocacy • Open Letters • Petitions • Rapid Actions
Dare to Speak
A vital, necessary playbook for navigating and defending free speech today by the CEO of PEN America, Dare To Speak provides a pathway for promoting free expression while also… More
Tell Imprisoned Writers: You Are Not Alone
This January, PEN America is collecting messages of solidarity to be delivered to imprisoned writers around the world. More
Sri Lanka: Drop investigation into award-winning writer Shakthika Sathkumara
PEN is deeply concerned by the ongoing legal proceedings against award-winning writer, Shakthika Sathkumara, accused of inciting religious hatred and violating international human rights Law under Section 3(1) of… More
Joint NGO Statement Renews Call for Justice for Jamal Khashoggi
One year after the gruesome murder of Jamal Khashoggi, NGOs renew their call and demand justice for Jamal On 2 October 2018, Jamal Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul… More
Banned Books Week 2019
We are proud to collaborate with PEN America partners nationwide in activities to celebrate Banned Books Week 2019. More
Statement in Response to Report the FBI is Urging Universities to Monitor Chinese Students and Scholars
China’s government is notorious for its surveillance. Efforts by the U.S. to fend off autocracy must not mimic the very tactics it professes to reject. More
Sri Lanka: Release award-winning writer Shakthika Sathkumara
Award-winning writer Shakthika Sathkumara, arrested and in ongoing detention, is charged with inciting religious hatred and violating international human rights law by Sri Lanka. More
Joint letter requesting immediate release of blogger Mohamed Cheikh Ould Mkhaitir in Mauritania
President Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz Islamic Republic of Mauritania Ministère du Secrétariat Général à la Présidence Nouakchott, Mauritania Your Excellency : We, the undersigned non-governmental organizations, urge you to ensure the immediate release of Mohamed… More
Uganda: Stella Nyanzi’s next hearing set for June 26
PEN continues to call for all charges to be dropped against academic Dr. Stella Nyanzi, whose next court hearing – where she is expected to begin her defense –… More
Iran: Serious concern for health of imprisoned journalist Narges Mohammadi
Prominent journalist and human rights defender Narges Mohammadi is currently serving a six-year prison sentence for her human rights activities in Evin prison, where she has developed a serious… More
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PEN America On 
From the moment #Trump began lying and denigrating journalism & science I feared a pandemic where disinformation would be a matter of life or death and Americans would not be able to trust our govt. Now we're here. #COVIDー19 #CoronavirusOutbreak https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/26/world/asia/coronavirus-news.html?action=click&module=Top%20Stories&pgtype=Homepage
Police have arrested would-be delegates of a founding congress of the opposition party in Kazakhstan, raising fears about political participation. https://bit.ly/384YLGK
[email protected] has launched its first #ArtistsxArtists collaboration with a piece by artists @badiucao and Gianluca Costantini (@channeldraw). Their co-created cartoon highlights the #HongKongProtests and the importance of #FreeSpeech. Read more here: https://bit.ly/2I0lkSm.