PEN America

We joined a coalition demanding ICE release journalist Estefany Rodriguez, saying it's "part of a broader erosion of democratic norms and human rights... in which immigration authorities are increasingly being used to chill free expression and 1st Amendment rights." www.freepress.net/download/pre...

Removal Of Slavery, Racism Exhibits Highlights Ongoing Effort to Purge History From National Parks This purge is among the most notable moves by the Trump administration to erase facts that the president doesn’t like.

Just in time for America’s 250th birthday, its history is being erased from our National Parks.

Learn more at: pen.org/purging-hist...

This image is a promotional poster for the PEN America 62nd Annual Literary Awards Ceremony. It features a collage of book covers in the background, such as "The Devil That Never Dies" and "The Hayes and Kahn Relationship." The PEN America logo and award emblem are prominently displayed at the top. The event details at the bottom state "The Town Hall, March 31, 2026, 7:30 PM | NYC," with a red button reading "Get Tickets Now!"

Tickets on sale now for the PEN America Literary Awards taking place on March 31 in NYC. Don't miss your opportunity to attend the 'Oscars for Books' and spot your favorite and soon-to-be-favorite authors! https://bit.ly/3OTki0q

‘Nevertheless, she persisted…’: 16 Books to Read This Women’s History Month I offer this list of books as a lifebuoy to all with honor and respect to the voices that bolster my courage, persistence, and even, optimism.

“When I was asked to compile a reading list for Women’s History Month, I heard in my ears the voices of those of women who persisted when told to be silent,” writes Amy Reid, PEN America's Freedom to Learn program director.

Read more and shop the list: pen.org/womens-histo... #WomensHistoryMonth

Image featuring a quote in white and red text on a black background. The quote discusses the labeling of writers and free expression defenders as 'extremists,' highlighting the government's fear of words. It praises PEN Belarus for supporting writers facing repression. Attributed to Summer Lopez & Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf, Co-CEOs, with PEN America logo at the bottom.

PEN America strongly condemns the Belarusian authorities’ designation of @penbelarus.bsky.social as an “extremist organization.” The move is a dangerous escalation in the government’s ongoing assault on free expression and Belarusian culture independent of state control.
pen.org/press-releas...

Utah Bill Allowing Students to Refuse Coursework Threatens Academic Freedom Utah poised to become first state to allow students to opt out of coursework based on their religious or conscience beliefs

NEW: The Utah legislature is “cheapening” higher education in their state, says PEN America’s Laura Benitez. PEN America has urged Governor Cox to veto HB 204, which would allow students to opt-out of course work based on their “religious” or “conscience” beliefs. pen.org/press-releas...

Call for Restoration of VOA Journalists After Court Rejects Unlawful Appointment of Kari Lake PEN America today applauded a decision by U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth striking down the unlawful appointment of Kari Lake to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) and called fo...

PEN America applauds the decision by U.S. District Court Judge Royce C. Lamberth striking down the unlawful appointment of Kari Lake to lead the U.S. Agency for Global Media. We call for the quick return of hundreds of journalists to Voice of America laid off by Lake in 2025. pen.org/press-releas...

International Women’s Day 2026: Take Action for Valeryja Kaściuhova (Belarus)  — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expression Worldwide “No one should have to endure years behind bars for their work. Valeryja Kaściuhova’s plight is a test of our collective conscience: the world cannot stay silent while a woman’s freedom, health, and d...

#InternationalWomensDay: Imagine being behind bars just for being a woman who writes and speaks out. The Belarusian authorities must release #ValeryjaKaściuhova immediately and unconditionally and ensure she has access to medical care while detained. #IWD26
www.pen-international.org/our-campaign...

Some literary meetups truly shine a light forward. Honored by this free-speech collab in Miami Beach with @penamerica.bsky.social for American Scare. Thank you William Johnson for organizing this Cocktails and Conversation salon!

Why We Must Remember Women Writers on International Women’s Day On International Women’s Day, PEN America is working to free women writers from the rising threats they face around the world.

Around the world, women writers face risks because of what they write, where they write, or simply just *because* they write. On #InternationalWomensDay, we encourage you to learn more about women writers at risk, and read some of their words. pen.org/we-must-reme...

Workshop on Investigating Prison Book Bans In this interactive workshop, you’ll learn how to request records, clean up data and shed light on carceral book bans.

A new interactive workshop on prison censorship by @themarshallproject.org puts a PEN America report on widespread book censorship in prisons front and center. Check out the workshop: www.themarshallproject.org/events/works...

ICE Detention of Nashville Journalist is an "Alarming Threat" to Press Freedom PEN America expressed alarm today at the ICE detention of Nashville Noticias journalist Estefany Rodríguez in Tennessee. Rodríguez, who has a work permit and an active asylum case, came to the United ...

PEN America: “The detention of journalist Estefany Rodríguez by ICE is an alarming threat to press freedom that follows a well-worn path by this administration. Journalists must be able to report freely without fear that their work will expose them to government retaliation." pen.org/press-releas...

Protect the Freedom to Read in Massachusetts

ACTION ALERT: Massachusetts readers, ask your legislators to protect the freedom to read by supporting H.3594, An Act Regarding Free Expression. This bill would strengthen protections for libraries & students’ right to read. Send a message today: act.pen.org/a/mass-actio...

The Censored University Panel discussion Tuesday, March 10, 5:30pm Bass Lecture Hall LBJ School of Public Affairs

Austin area peeps: @penamerica.bsky.social is coming to UT next Tuesday, March 10th. It’ll be a great panel discussion, featuring @jonfreadom.bsky.social, SEAT representative Cameron Samuels, Professor Karma Chavez, and author/journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones.

Presentation slide with text about Kronika, a PEN America project that has preserved an extensive collection of documentary testimonies, chronicling rushes, full scale invasion of Ukraine. Text appears alongside a screenshot of the website.

Kronika, a project of PEN America, has preserved an extensive collection of documentary testimonies chronicling Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Access the multilingual archive at: witnessesofwar.krnk.io/en

📢 Join CPJ, the National Union of Journalists of Ukraine,
@penamerica.bsky.social, and @euatun.bsky.social for a #CSW70 side event to discuss detentions and enforced disappearances of #Ukrainian women journalists by #Russia.

🗓️ March 13, 2026, 1:15 pm - 2:45 pm ET
📝 Register here: shorturl.at/HpQl0

PEN America, Publishers, Authors Join Together to Support Twin Cities Students PEN America is doubling down on its support for young people in the Twin Cities by co-hosting with Just Us Books and Penguin Random House a virtual event on March 10 that will feature live readings by a group of children's authors from the 2018 antholog...

PEN America, Publishers, Authors Join Together to Support Twin Cities Students https://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/childrens/childrens-industry-news/article/99868-pen-america-publishers-authors-join-together-to-support-twin-cities-students.html

Minnesota Authors, PEN America Continue to Speak Out Against ICE Authors from around Minnesota, as well as a visiting delegation of international writers representing PEN America, convened in the Twin Cities last week for readings, talks, and other events in suppor...

Minnesota Authors, PEN America Continue to Speak Out Against ICE www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/...

By banning authors as renowned as Plato, Texas A&M has staked out turf as the epicenter of higher educational censorship. Resistance can sometimes feel futile — but as @jennyboylan.bsky.social says here, we must stand up for Aggies’ freedom to read, write, and learn.

Text image with a quote from Karin Deutsch Karlekar, Director, Writers at Risk, expressing concern about writers and dissidents in Iran's prisons. Emphasizes prioritizing civilian lives. Mentions PEN America and directs to pen.org for the full statement.

Amid ongoing military strikes and conflict in Iran, PEN America and @pensydney.bsky.social condemn the escalating and urgent threats to detained writers, including poet and translator Ali Asadollahi, as well as other political prisoners jailed in the country. Full statement: pen.org/press-releas...

Prison for Poetry: Eight Years Behind Bars for Satire in Egypt Galal El-Behairy’s case is, unfortunately, just one example of the human cost of silencing dissent in Egypt.

Despite finishing his prison sentence, El-Behairy, a poet and PEN/Barbey #FreedomToWrite Awardee, remains trapped in indefinite pretrial detention, with no end in sight.

Egypt must immediately and unconditionally pardon and release El-Behairy. Read more at pen.org/prison-for-p...

Eight years ago, Galal El-Behairy, once called “the poet of Egyptian universities” was arrested for writing the satirical song “Balaha,” which went viral for its clever lyrics mocking Egypt’s president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi.

He is still detained today. Share his poetry to show he is not forgotten.

China: PEN International condemns the sentencing of writer and PEN member Zan Aizong to three years in prison  — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expression Worldwide ‘The imprisonment of Zan Aizong for peacefully commemorating the life of Liu Xiaobo underscores China’s continued use of vague criminal charges to silence independent writers and erase collective memo...

#China: Writer and PEN member Zan Aizong has been sentenced to three years in prison after taking part in a peaceful memorial for Nobel Peace Prize laureate Liu Xiaobo.

PEN International calls for his immediate and unconditional release. Full statement ⬇️

www.pen-international.org/news/china-p...

“On Erasing History,” a Conversation With Jason Stanley and Nikole Hannah-Jones, Thurs., March 26 7 pm NYC On Thursday, March 26, PEN America & Liz’s Book Bar will bring together two leading voices to discuss authoritarianism and censorship by the Trump administration against schools and universities, scie...

March 26 in Brooklyn: PEN America & Liz’s Book Bar will bring together NYT bestselling authors Jason Stanley and Nikole Hannah-Jones to discuss authoritarianism, censorship and Stanley’s Erasing History https://pen.org/press-release/on-erasing-history-conversation-jason-stanley-nikole-hannah-jones/

Text image with a black background and red borders. The quote reads: "[H.R. 7661 is] an overt, intentional dog whistle to individuals that believe that trans and LGBTQ+ students have no place in public schools, and their stories do not belong in classroom libraries." This is attributed to Kasey Meehan, Freedom to Read Director, in School Library Journal. Below the text is the PEN America logo

People need to mobilize now against H.R. 7661, PEN America's Kasey Meehan tells @slj.com.

That means, “putting pressure on their elected leaders, different committees that are going to review it, to really call out the harm and the absurdity of this bill.” www.slj.com/story/Anti-C...

‘We Couldn’t Say the Title’: Darcie Little Badger on the Words Banned at a Utah University When a Utah university gave author Darcie Little Badger a list of words she couldn’t say, she was stunned.

‘We Couldn’t Say the Title’: @littlebadger.bsky.social on the Words Banned at a Utah University pen.org/darcie-littl...

From the censorship of Plato to the elimination of the Women’s and Gender Studies program, academic freedom is under attack at Texas A&M. But students are fighting back — and that’s enough to give author Sandra Cisneros hope.

Virtual Read-In 3/10 by Celebrated Children's Authors to Support Minneapolis Youth PEN America, in partnership with Just Us Book and Penguin Random House, will join a lineup of celebrated children's book authors on Tues., March 10, for a live reading at 11:00 am ET/ 10:00 am CT of excerpts from the anthology, We Rise, We Resist, We R...

Celebrated children’s authors will participate in a virtual read-in to support Minneapolis youth on March 10 https://pen.org/press-release/virtual-read-in-3-10-by-celebrated-childrens-authors-to-support-minneapolis-youth/

Belarus: Statement on the systematic confiscation and destruction of manuscripts by prison authorities – PEN Belarus In Belarus, prison authorities systematically confiscate and destroy the literary manuscripts and letters of those imprisoned on politically motivated grounds. Their aim is not only to silence individ...

March 3 – World Writers’ Day.
On this day, we want to draw attention to the systematic practice of confiscating and destroying the literary manuscripts and letters of those imprisoned on politically motivated grounds.

❤️‍🩹 Share our statement!

Established at our 48th Congress in 1986, World Writers’ Day honours the courage to write and the solidarity that protects it.

As writers face imprisonment, exile, censorship, and violence for speaking the truth, we stand with them and defend freedom of expression.