PEN America
@penamerica.bsky.social
We stand at the intersection of literature and human rights to protect open expression in the U.S. and worldwide. Support and learn more at pen.org.
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PEN America
@penamerica.bsky.social
· Jan 24
PEN America Criticizes "Alarming" and "Dismissive" Language on Book Bans by U.S. Education Department - PEN America
Kasey Meehan, director, Freedom to Read, at PEN America, said: "For over three years we have countered rhetoric that book bans occurring in public schools are a “hoax.” They are absolutely not. This k...
pen.org
PEN America responds to action taken today by the Department of Education dismissing complaints about book bans and referring to them as a “hoax”:
"All students deserve to see themselves and the world around them reflected in the books shelved within their public schools.“ pen.org/press-releas...
"All students deserve to see themselves and the world around them reflected in the books shelved within their public schools.“ pen.org/press-releas...
PEN America condemns Trump Administration’s legal effort to compel disclosure of Jewish names: "It is unprecedented to have the U.S. government cynically using the very real threat of surging antisemitism as cover to strip civil liberties from Americans." pen.org/press-releas...
Trump Administration’s Legal Effort to Compel Disclosure of Jewish Names at the University of Pennsylvania is a “Shocking Abuse of Power”
PEN America today called on the federal court in Philadelphia to deny the Trump administration’s attempt to enforce a subpoena against the University of Pennsylvania to disclose the names and other id...
pen.org
November 22, 2025 at 3:45 AM
PEN America condemns Trump Administration’s legal effort to compel disclosure of Jewish names: "It is unprecedented to have the U.S. government cynically using the very real threat of surging antisemitism as cover to strip civil liberties from Americans." pen.org/press-releas...
When the world’s most powerful leader singles out a reporter, he understands his insult is not isolated, but a green light for targeted harassment and intimidation. https://pen.org/president-trump-escalates-assault-on-journalists/
‘Quiet, Piggy' ‘Terrible Reporter': President Trump Escalates Assault on Journalists
Trump's attacks are part of a strategy against those whose job is to question him and his policies, especially women reporters.
pen.org
November 21, 2025 at 11:20 PM
When the world’s most powerful leader singles out a reporter, he understands his insult is not isolated, but a green light for targeted harassment and intimidation. https://pen.org/president-trump-escalates-assault-on-journalists/
In an op-ed in the Kansas City Star, Amanda Wells and @refugees.org's Alexia Gardner explain how new policy to vet immigrant's social media accounts for "anti-American" content will undercut free expression and chill the speech of immigrant writers and artists. www.kansascity.com/opinion/read...
Targeting ‘anti-American’ speech hurts freedom in Kansas, Missouri, beyond | Opinion
Rejecting immigrants because of their opinions in social media is a slap in the face to the ideals of free expression. | Opinion
www.kansascity.com
November 21, 2025 at 10:55 PM
In an op-ed in the Kansas City Star, Amanda Wells and @refugees.org's Alexia Gardner explain how new policy to vet immigrant's social media accounts for "anti-American" content will undercut free expression and chill the speech of immigrant writers and artists. www.kansascity.com/opinion/read...
We stand in solidarity with Indian journalist and columnist Rana Ayyub, and join @rsf.org and other organizations in calling on Navi Mumbai police to provide robust protection and investigate this escalation in threats against her.
India: 10 NGOs, including RSF, sent a letter to the Navi Mumbai police commissioner on 19 November calling for an official investigation into death threats against journalist Rana Ayyub and demanding immediate protection for her family.
Journalist Rana Ayyub in danger in India: 10 NGOs unite to demand immediate action from police
In an open letter sent on 19 November 2025, to the Navi Mumbai police commissioner, ten NGOs — including Reporters Without Borders (RSF) — called for an official police investigation into the death th...
rsf.org
November 21, 2025 at 10:11 PM
We stand in solidarity with Indian journalist and columnist Rana Ayyub, and join @rsf.org and other organizations in calling on Navi Mumbai police to provide robust protection and investigate this escalation in threats against her.
A writer-in-residence at Baruch College and author of STILL CITY, poet Oksana Maksymchuk talked to PEN America about how poetry challenges power in ways it finds dangerous—and how to support writers jailed for their free expression. #DayoftheImprisonedWriter
Learn more at: pen.org/freedom-forb...
Learn more at: pen.org/freedom-forb...
November 21, 2025 at 9:53 PM
A writer-in-residence at Baruch College and author of STILL CITY, poet Oksana Maksymchuk talked to PEN America about how poetry challenges power in ways it finds dangerous—and how to support writers jailed for their free expression. #DayoftheImprisonedWriter
Learn more at: pen.org/freedom-forb...
Learn more at: pen.org/freedom-forb...
PEN America has joined @readfreelyal.bsky.social and 6 other library and LGBTQ advocacy groups in expressing alarm at new anti-trans book ban policy in Alabama. pen.org/press-releas...
Advocates Alarmed Over New Alabama Ban On Youth Access To Trans Books In Libraries
Read Freely Alabama, Alabama Transgender Rights Action Coalition, PEN America, EveryLibrary, Authors Against Book Bans, National Coalition Against Censorship, American Booksellers for Free Expression,...
pen.org
November 21, 2025 at 8:23 PM
PEN America has joined @readfreelyal.bsky.social and 6 other library and LGBTQ advocacy groups in expressing alarm at new anti-trans book ban policy in Alabama. pen.org/press-releas...
Reposted by PEN America
#Thailand: We join PEN #Malaysia in expressing our alarm over the Malaysian government's targeting of Murray Hunter in an act of transnational repression. We call for the complaints against him to be withdrawn immediately.
Read our joint statement 🔽 www.pen-international.org/news/malaysi...
Read our joint statement 🔽 www.pen-international.org/news/malaysi...
Malaysia-Thailand: Australian writer Murray Hunter targeted in act of transnational repression — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expression Worldwide
‘ As the current ASEAN Chair, the Malaysian government has a responsibility to demonstrate its commitment to human rights, including the right to freedom of expression, across the region. Instead, it ...
www.pen-international.org
November 21, 2025 at 2:52 PM
#Thailand: We join PEN #Malaysia in expressing our alarm over the Malaysian government's targeting of Murray Hunter in an act of transnational repression. We call for the complaints against him to be withdrawn immediately.
Read our joint statement 🔽 www.pen-international.org/news/malaysi...
Read our joint statement 🔽 www.pen-international.org/news/malaysi...
PEN America: President Trump "has crossed a serious and dangerous red line explicitly encouraging violence against federal lawmakers." https://pen.org/press-release/condemn-trump-comments-on-video-message/
Political Violence is Never the Solution to Free Speech
PEN America Statement on Pesident Trump's comments on video about "unlawful orders": “This is beyond the pale. While the President has repeatedly used the bully pulpit to do just that - bully his oppo...
pen.org
November 21, 2025 at 1:29 AM
PEN America: President Trump "has crossed a serious and dangerous red line explicitly encouraging violence against federal lawmakers." https://pen.org/press-release/condemn-trump-comments-on-video-message/
Reposted by PEN America
#China: Today, journalist Zhang Zhan was located in Shanghai Women's Prison, after RSF sounded the alarm over her disappearance yesterday. We call on the international community to ensure the Chinese authorities guarantee her right to meet with her family and her lawyer.
RSF raises alarm over new disappearance of Chinese journalist Zhang Zhan
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is sounding the alarm over the disappearance of Chinese journalist Zhang Zhan, who was reportedly transferred by the Chinese regime to an undisclosed facility. The inte...
rsf.org
November 18, 2025 at 10:59 AM
#China: Today, journalist Zhang Zhan was located in Shanghai Women's Prison, after RSF sounded the alarm over her disappearance yesterday. We call on the international community to ensure the Chinese authorities guarantee her right to meet with her family and her lawyer.
When Indiana police officers gave "fake tickets to elementary school students for saying '6-7' I got the joke," writes PEN America's Kristen Shahverdian. "But having police issue 'tickets' for saying '6-7' is sending the wrong message." Read more at: https://pen.org/policing-6-7/
6-7 Might Be Annoying, but Should We Police It?
We want our students to be excited by their right to express themselves through their speech, music, dance, painting, and writing.
pen.org
November 20, 2025 at 9:28 PM
When Indiana police officers gave "fake tickets to elementary school students for saying '6-7' I got the joke," writes PEN America's Kristen Shahverdian. "But having police issue 'tickets' for saying '6-7' is sending the wrong message." Read more at: https://pen.org/policing-6-7/
On this #TransgenderDayOfRemembrance, PEN America recognizes the voices of trans and other gender nonconforming authors and the stories they contribute to the world. Today, and every day, gender expression is free expression. https://pen.org/transgender-day-of-remembrance-2025/
Gender Expression Is Free Expression: Uplifting the Voices of Trans Authors
PEN America recognizes the voices of trans and other gender nonconforming authors and the stories they contribute to the world.
pen.org
November 20, 2025 at 8:38 PM
On this #TransgenderDayOfRemembrance, PEN America recognizes the voices of trans and other gender nonconforming authors and the stories they contribute to the world. Today, and every day, gender expression is free expression. https://pen.org/transgender-day-of-remembrance-2025/
Poet and #FreedomToWrite honoree Galal El-Behairy started writing poetry in high school. During his time as a university student, he performed readings as a form of creative protest.
Unjustly detained since 2018, El-Behairy wrote this poem—read by his father—from jail. #FreeGalal
Unjustly detained since 2018, El-Behairy wrote this poem—read by his father—from jail. #FreeGalal
November 20, 2025 at 8:12 PM
Poet and #FreedomToWrite honoree Galal El-Behairy started writing poetry in high school. During his time as a university student, he performed readings as a form of creative protest.
Unjustly detained since 2018, El-Behairy wrote this poem—read by his father—from jail. #FreeGalal
Unjustly detained since 2018, El-Behairy wrote this poem—read by his father—from jail. #FreeGalal
Reposted by PEN America
FALL OF FREEDOM nationwide US arts & literature events
#MakeArtNotWar @penamerica.bsky.social
November 21 & 22, 2025
Free
In a city near you!
#MakeArtNotWar @penamerica.bsky.social
November 21 & 22, 2025
Free
In a city near you!
November 20, 2025 at 12:10 PM
FALL OF FREEDOM nationwide US arts & literature events
#MakeArtNotWar @penamerica.bsky.social
November 21 & 22, 2025
Free
In a city near you!
#MakeArtNotWar @penamerica.bsky.social
November 21 & 22, 2025
Free
In a city near you!
Reposted by PEN America
We are delighted to announce Mohamed Tadjadit as the winner of the 2025 Freedom of Expression Awards in the Arts category. We stand in solidarity with Tadjadit as he begins a hunger strike this week in protest of his continued imprisonment: www.indexoncensorship.org/awards-2025-...
Awards 2025 arts winner Mohamed Tadjadit - Index on Censorship
Imprisoned Algerian poet Mohamed Tadjadit has won the Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Award in the Arts category
www.indexoncensorship.org
November 19, 2025 at 8:05 PM
We are delighted to announce Mohamed Tadjadit as the winner of the 2025 Freedom of Expression Awards in the Arts category. We stand in solidarity with Tadjadit as he begins a hunger strike this week in protest of his continued imprisonment: www.indexoncensorship.org/awards-2025-...
A leading voice of Algeria’s pro-democracy movement, poet Mohamed Tadjadit is serving five years in prison for his poetry and activism. We join PEN International to call for the unconditional release of #MohamedTadjadit.
Take action for the #DayoftheImprisonedWriter:
bsky.app/profile/peni...
Take action for the #DayoftheImprisonedWriter:
bsky.app/profile/peni...
#DayoftheImprisonedWriter: Algerian poet #MohamedTadjadit — the voice of the Hirak movement — is in prison just for speaking truth to power. Join PEN International in demanding his immediate and unconditional release.
Take action today: www.pen-international.org/mohamed-tadj...
Take action today: www.pen-international.org/mohamed-tadj...
Mohamed Tadjadit Day of the Imprisoned Writer — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expression Worldwide — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of E...
www.pen-international.org
November 20, 2025 at 3:29 PM
A leading voice of Algeria’s pro-democracy movement, poet Mohamed Tadjadit is serving five years in prison for his poetry and activism. We join PEN International to call for the unconditional release of #MohamedTadjadit.
Take action for the #DayoftheImprisonedWriter:
bsky.app/profile/peni...
Take action for the #DayoftheImprisonedWriter:
bsky.app/profile/peni...
A Victory for the Right to Read in Missouri: Judge Overturns Law with Criminal Penalties for School Employees Over Books https://pen.org/press-release/victory-for-right-to-read-in-missouri/
A Victory for the Right to Read in Missouri
“The court's ruling is a win for librarians, educators, students, and schools,” said Kasey Meehan, director, Freedom to Read, at PEN America. “Making school employees criminals over their book selections is simply outrageous and unacceptable. The overtu...
pen.org
November 20, 2025 at 1:16 AM
A Victory for the Right to Read in Missouri: Judge Overturns Law with Criminal Penalties for School Employees Over Books https://pen.org/press-release/victory-for-right-to-read-in-missouri/
November Is the Month to Celebrate Native American Culture, but the Stories That Do So Are Getting Banned
Here are some #BannedBooks to read this #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth https://pen.org/banned-native-american-books/
Here are some #BannedBooks to read this #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth https://pen.org/banned-native-american-books/
November is the Month to Celebrate Native American Culture, but the Stories That Do So Are Getting Banned
The list below includes a portion of the books written by or about Indigenous people removed from school libraries and classrooms since 2021.
pen.org
November 19, 2025 at 10:59 PM
November Is the Month to Celebrate Native American Culture, but the Stories That Do So Are Getting Banned
Here are some #BannedBooks to read this #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth https://pen.org/banned-native-american-books/
Here are some #BannedBooks to read this #NativeAmericanHeritageMonth https://pen.org/banned-native-american-books/
After "Butt or Face? Super Gross Butts" by Kari Lavelle was challenged in two Texas school districts, we spoke to Lavelle, who told us it's the kind of "silly" book that can engage reluctant readers and also pack in a great deal of educational value. More: https://pen.org/book-judged-by-silly-title/
November 19, 2025 at 9:48 PM
After "Butt or Face? Super Gross Butts" by Kari Lavelle was challenged in two Texas school districts, we spoke to Lavelle, who told us it's the kind of "silly" book that can engage reluctant readers and also pack in a great deal of educational value. More: https://pen.org/book-judged-by-silly-title/
Journalist #MziaAmaglobeli is serving a two-year prison sentence in the country of Georgia on politically motivated grounds. We join @peninternational.bsky.social to call for her unconditional release.
Take action for the #DayoftheImprisonedWriter: www.pen-international.org/mzia-amaglob...
Take action for the #DayoftheImprisonedWriter: www.pen-international.org/mzia-amaglob...
Mzia Amaglobeli — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expression Worldwide
www.pen-international.org
November 19, 2025 at 4:29 PM
Journalist #MziaAmaglobeli is serving a two-year prison sentence in the country of Georgia on politically motivated grounds. We join @peninternational.bsky.social to call for her unconditional release.
Take action for the #DayoftheImprisonedWriter: www.pen-international.org/mzia-amaglob...
Take action for the #DayoftheImprisonedWriter: www.pen-international.org/mzia-amaglob...
Reposted by PEN America
" Add your voice. Speak up. Let us rewrite the story of the future together." Join British actor and activist Khalid Abdalla in showing solidarity with imprisoned writers and standing up for freedom of expression: www.pen-international.org/our-campaign...
November 18, 2025 at 3:21 PM
" Add your voice. Speak up. Let us rewrite the story of the future together." Join British actor and activist Khalid Abdalla in showing solidarity with imprisoned writers and standing up for freedom of expression: www.pen-international.org/our-campaign...
President Trump’s response to the murder of exiled Saudi columnist Jamal Khashoggi and the culpability of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman sends a chilling message to authoritarian governments that paves the way to more human rights violations. pen.org/press-releas...
November 19, 2025 at 12:44 AM
President Trump’s response to the murder of exiled Saudi columnist Jamal Khashoggi and the culpability of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman sends a chilling message to authoritarian governments that paves the way to more human rights violations. pen.org/press-releas...
For #TransgenderAwarenessWeek, here's a reading list of books that deserve a place on the shelf where they can be read by those seeking to see themselves and to understand others, today and every day. bookshop.org/lists/transg...
Transgender Awareness Week
Each year from November 13 – 19, Transgender Awareness Week helps increase understanding about transgender people and the issues members of the community face.
bookshop.org
November 18, 2025 at 7:42 PM
For #TransgenderAwarenessWeek, here's a reading list of books that deserve a place on the shelf where they can be read by those seeking to see themselves and to understand others, today and every day. bookshop.org/lists/transg...
Saturday in Brooklyn...
Let's read the Constitution aloud and discuss it together in a collective effort to make sense of this moment. Join me, along with special guests, this Saturday at The Center for Fiction at 10 am. Free and open to all. @brennancenter.org
#falloffreedom
#falloffreedom
November 18, 2025 at 5:44 PM
Saturday in Brooklyn...
Writer Yalqun Rozi is serving a 15-year prison sentence in Xinjiang, China for his work to promote the Uyghur language. We join @peninternational.bsky.social to call for the unconditional release of #YalqunRozi.
Take action for the #DayoftheImprisonedWriter:
Take action for the #DayoftheImprisonedWriter:
SIGN OUR PETITION: www.pen-international.org/yalqun-rozi-...
Uyghur writer #YalqunRozi has spent 9 years behind bars in China for expressing his cultural identity. Sentenced to 15 years, his only “crime” was helping preserve the Uyghur language. You can set him free. #DayoftheImprisonedWriter
Uyghur writer #YalqunRozi has spent 9 years behind bars in China for expressing his cultural identity. Sentenced to 15 years, his only “crime” was helping preserve the Uyghur language. You can set him free. #DayoftheImprisonedWriter
Yalqun Rozi — PEN International | Promoting Literature & Defending Freedom of Expression Worldwide
www.pen-international.org
November 18, 2025 at 3:20 PM
Writer Yalqun Rozi is serving a 15-year prison sentence in Xinjiang, China for his work to promote the Uyghur language. We join @peninternational.bsky.social to call for the unconditional release of #YalqunRozi.
Take action for the #DayoftheImprisonedWriter:
Take action for the #DayoftheImprisonedWriter:
🧵Authoritarian leaders target poets because their words—filled with power and feeling—can expose oppression. For @peninternational.bsky.social annual #DayoftheImprisonedWriter campaign, we draw inspiration from the creativity of poets jailed for their words. pen.org/freedom-forb...
November 18, 2025 at 12:17 AM
🧵Authoritarian leaders target poets because their words—filled with power and feeling—can expose oppression. For @peninternational.bsky.social annual #DayoftheImprisonedWriter campaign, we draw inspiration from the creativity of poets jailed for their words. pen.org/freedom-forb...