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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
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
Turkey: Free Ayşe Düzkan
Writer, journalist and publisher Ayşe Düzkan is serving an 18-month prison sentence for ‘making propaganda for a terrorist organisation’. She is one of 56 journalists and activists who took… More
SIGN NOW: Demand Charges be Dropped Against Three Saudi Writer-Activists
Sign the petition to call on the Saudi Arabian government to drop all charges against these courageous writer-activists and 2019 Freedom to Write awardees. More
Ukrainian Filmmaker Oleg Sentsov Marks Five Years in Russian Prison
On this fifth anniversary of Oleg Sentsov's unjust detention, PEN America continues to call for his immediate and unconditional release. More
World Press Freedom Day 2019
We are proud to collaborate with PEN America partners nationwide in activities to celebrate World Press Freedom Day 2019. More
Azerbaijan: Imprisoned writer Rashad Ramazanov ends hunger strike
Writer and blogger Rashad Ramazanov is on hunger strike and in poor health. He is one of several Azerbaijani prisoners, activists, and opposition figures who have been on hunger… More
Add Your Name: Join 100 Writers, Journalists, Artists, and Activists in Calling on the United Nations to Investigate the Murder of Jamal Khashoggi
Sign the letter to UN Secretary-General António Guterres calling for an immediate investigation into the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi. More
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PEN America On 
Oakland, Calif., voted to pass an ordinance that would ban municipal use of face recognition technology: https://t.co/LT1PgbmBLQ. Read more on mounting bipartisan concern over facial recognition: https://t.co/fNmeQXtG0z via @thomasomelia for @aminterest.
These Journalists Are Facing Huge Threats And Injustice For Pursuing The Truth: https://t.co/OWrh3QSF6X via @BuzzFeedNews. PEN America continues to advocate on behalf of individual writers who are being persecuted because of their work: https://t.co/LUzJMNFFmZ. #pressfreedom