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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
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
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
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PEN America On 
London’s police department said on Friday that it would begin using facial recognition technology in the city to identify people off the street in real time with video cameras, adopting a level of surveillance that is rare outside of China. https://nyti.ms/2GiTwrD