#USA: We are pleased to see Jimmy Kimmel return. His case reminds us of the urgent need to resist worsening threats to free expression. We can only hope his words spark a louder and more consistent opposition to the Trump administration’s attacks on free speech. @penamericas.bsky.social

#Cuba: Independent journalist and author José Gabriel Barrenechea will stand trial today, facing up to six years in prison. His case reflects the Cuban authorities’ systematic campaign to silence independent voices. Read our statement ⬇️ www.pen-international.org/news/cuba-tr...

“Kimmel's return is a vindication for free speech... When people speak out to hold the powerful to account—it matters. We must all channel the same energy to fight the many assaults on free speech underway, including against those with less reach & resources"—Summer Lopez, PEN America interim Co-CEO

Over the past week, we've seen writers, journalists, and scholars bombarded with harassment after being put on watchlists or doxed for expressing their thoughts on the killing of Charlie Kirk. Some have lost their jobs, been forced offline, or had to flee their homes. (1/2)

#USA: PEN International joins PEN America in condemning the FCC’s threats to Jimmy Kimmel Live! as a dangerous escalation of government-instigated censorship.

At our 91st Congress in Kraków, Centres adopted a landmark Resolution condemning the ongoing escalating attacks on freedom of expression in the United States — from book bans to threats against press freedom. Read the full resolution ⬇️ www.pen-international.org/news/pen-int...

An “Extraordinary Assault” on Free Speech: FCC Threats Mark a “Dark New Level of Capitulation” and Escalation of Government-Instigated Censorship Over Jimmy Kimmel, PEN America Warns pen.org/press-releas... #FreeSpeech #FirstAmendment

📢 UPDATE: After 206 days, the disappeared journalist Rory Branker has been located in Caracas police cells. PEN International calls on Venezuela to immediately release him, guarantee his safety, and respect his right to legal defence. #FreeRoryBranker @penamericas.bsky.social

#USA: PEN International joins PEN America in condemning President Trump’s defamation lawsuit against Penguin Random House and The New York Times. bsky.app/profile/pena...

PEN America: President Trump’s defamation lawsuit against publisher Penguin Random House and The New York Times "is striking in its hypocrisy, and continues the broader goal of creating a climate of fear and retaliation while claiming to champion free speech." Full statement: pen.org/press-releas...

EVENT: PEN International and Polish PEN open the 91st Congress in Kraków with Nobel Laureate Olga Tokarczuk and PEN President Burhan Sonmez. 🎟 Reserve your seat: kbfbilety.krakow.pl/kup-bilet/ur... 📍 Kino Kijów, Kraków 🗓 Tuesday 2 September 🕠 17:30–19:00 CEST

In just 3 days, writers from around the world will gather in Kraków for PEN International’s 91st Congress — Freedom of Words, Words of the Free. Find out more ⬇️ kbfbilety.krakow.pl/kategorie/pen #PENCongress25 #FreedomOfWords

🇨🇺 Alertamos sobre la situación de Maykel Castillo, incomunicado y en una celda de castigo desde el 16 de agosto, por una pelea instigada por un preso común. Exigimos que se levante el castigo impuesto y se le permita comunicarse con su familia. youtube.com/watch?v=O6tu... @crdefenders.bsky.social

#Guatemala: On 8 August 2025, the Third Court of Appeals admitted that the file, reportedly under the custody of Magistrate Alejandro Prado, had been lost—an alarming breach of due process. Read our full update (@penamericas.bsky.social) ⬇️ www.pen-international.org/news/guatema... (1/2)

“College campuses can encourage students and professors to express themselves more freely by providing them a space to have their voices be heard,” says Abygail Simmons, a student at the University of Georgia. Hear from Abygail and other students here: pen.org/college-stud...

#Eritrea: Poet and journalist Amanuel Asrat has been held incommunicado since 2001 for using literature to speak out. One of the world’s longest-imprisoned writers, PEN International calls for his and his colleagues immediate release. #EmptyChair #FreeAsrat #PENCongress25

At PEN International, we stand with writers, artists, and thinkers everywhere. Freedom of expression is a right, not a privilege. Find out more about the work we do ⬇️ www.pen-international.org/what-we-do

As we look back on the powerful conversations and connections forged at last year’s annual Congress, we carry that momentum forward into PEN International 91st Congress, Kraków, 1-6 September. Stay tuned for more information.

#Venezuela: PEN International condemns the escalating crackdown on press freedom, including the arbitrary detention and enforced disappearance of journalists. Read our full statement ⬇️ www.pen-international.org/news/venezue...

Across the Americas, freedom of expression is under attack. Journalists, writers and artists face violence, legal harassment and state-led smear campaigns. Help us take Persecution to Protection: www.justgiving.com/campaign/sum...

Despite being behind bars, Echanis continues to write, and her words echo far beyond her cell. PEN International calls for Echanis’ right to a fair trial and an independent investigation into the circumstances of her arrest, including allegations of evidence planting.

#Phillipines: Poet, writer and activist Amanda Echanis was arrested in December 2020 on charges of “illegal possession of firearms and explosives”, a tactic frequently used by authorities to target government critics and red-tagged activists. #EmptyChair #FreeEchanis #PENCongress25

EVENT: Can literature survive repression? Join us to explore this question at our public event: PEN in the Age of Anxiety, part of our 91st Congress- 3 Sep in Kraków. With #VolodymyrYermolenko, #NatashaLomouri, #AdamMichnik www.pen-international.org/news/tokarcz... #FreedomOfWords #WordsOfTheFree

PEN International’s 91st Congress opens with Nobel Laureate Olga Tokarczuk & PEN President Burhan Sonmez on Memory, Migration & Myth, plus a special address from Margaret Atwood. Kino Kijów, Kraków | 2 Sept, 17:30–19:00 CEST #PENCongress25 #FreedomOfWords www.pen-international.org/news/literar...

#Cuba: Cuban poet María Cristina Garrido is serving 7 years for peaceful protest. Despite beatings, isolation & starvation in prison, she keeps writing. We call for her immediate release. #EmptyChair #FreeCristinaGarrido #FreedomofWords #WordsoftheFree #PENCongress25 @penamericas.bsky.social

Alicia Quinones writes for @pencatala.bsky.social on rising book bans in the Americas. From a shocking book burning in Ohio to Fahrenheit 451, censorship keeps silencing diverse voices. www.pencatala.cat/blog/llibres...

This weekend marked four years since the arrest of María Cristina Garrido Rodríguez. In July 2021, the poet had joined thousands of fellow Cubans, including her sister, in peaceful protests that swept the country.

The federal Liberal government is renewing its interest in reviving an online harms bill. The issue was last addressed in Bill-63, the Online Harms Act, when PEN Canada expressed concern for #freeexpression. When Parliament was prorogued in Jan., Bill C-63 died on the order paper:

PEN America statement in response to The Buffalo Newspaper Guild and Buffalo History Museum postponing an event over safety concerns after Adam Zyglis, Pulitzer Prize-winning editorial cartoonist at The Buffalo News, received death threats over a cartoon: pen.org/press-releas...

#Mexico PEN International condemns the killing of journalist Melvin García, found dead in Cozumel on 7 July. He had reportedly left the city after threats linked to his book Mayra, su vida terminó, su historia comenzó, and returned only months ago. (1/2) aristeguinoticias.com/0807/mexico/...

CC: @penamericas.bsky.social

#Cuba. PEN Internacional exige la liberación inmediata del periodista Henry Constantin, detenido por presunto desacato al ejercer su labor informativa. El Estado cubano debe cumplir con sus obligaciones en materia de DDHH y detener el acoso a las voces críticas. www.sipiapa.org/la-sip-conde...

#Argentina: PEN International is deeply alarmed by the Milei government’s escalating attacks on press freedom. We call for an immediate end to harassment and full protection of free expression. Read our statement ⬇️ www.pen-international.org/news/argenti...

#Cuba. PEN International expresses its deep concern over the health condition of Cuban artist and political prisoner Maykel Castillo Pérez, known as Maykel Osorbo, who is currently on hunger strike in Prison 5 ½ in Pinar del Río. www.14ymedio.com/cuba/rapero-...

#Peru: PEN International expresses grave concern over the ongoing legal harassment of investigative journalist Paola Ugaz, targeted for exposing abuses within the Sodalicio de Vida Cristiana. Read our statement ⬇️ www.pen-international.org/news/per-aut...

#Mexico: PEN International is deeply concerned by the killing of journalist Salomón Ordóñez Miranda, director of Shalom Cuetzalan, murdered on 23 June. We urge federal authorities to urgently investigate, considering his journalism as a possible motive. www.eluniversal.com.mx/estados/radi...

#Chile: A proposed bill—dubbed ‘Gag Law 2.0’—could criminalise journalists, writers, and citizens for sharing information in the public interest. We urge the Chilean Senate to withdraw this dangerous proposal. Our statement: www.pen-international.org/news/chile-f... @penamericas.bsky.social

#ElSalvador: Press freedom is in crisis. At least 40 journalists have fled due to threats, surveillance & intimidation. New laws risk silencing critical voices. We join others in demanding urgent action. Read our joint statement: www.pen-international.org/news/el-salv... @penamericas.bsky.social

#México. PEN Internacional recibió con beneplácito la noticia de la sentencia contra dos de los responsables del intento de asesinato de Ciro Gómez Leyva, periodista mexicano. La justicia es fundamental para proteger la libre expresión y combatir la impunidad. www.milenio.com/policia/cron...

"Writers, artists, and scholars must be free to express their views openly without compromising their free movement across borders," said PEN America's @jonfreadom.bsky.social following detainment and deportation of Australian writer Alistair Kitchen for his personal writings pen.org/press-releas...

PEN America calls on New York Mayor Eric Adams today to drop his threat to ban a Daily News reporter from future press briefings. Adams made the comment after a City Hall reporter sought to ask a clarifying question about the mayor’s re-election bid. pen.org/press-releas...

#USA 🇺🇸 ‼️ Australian writer Alistair Kitchen said he was detained, and then deported back to Australia, by US Customs and Border Protection after hours of interrogation about his views on Israel and Palestine. Another instance of US immigration officials screening for dissenting political beliefs.

Join us for a special evening event with renowned author, Arundhati Roy, to celebrate her new memoir. 📅 Friday, September 12, 2025 ⏰ 7:00 - 9:00 PM (doors open 5:30 p.m.) 📍 Convocation Hall (31 King's College Circle, Toronto) 🎟️ $15 general admission, or $50 Book and Ticket

#Honduras: En una declaración conjunta, RSF y organizaciones aliadas condenan los recientes ataques contra la prensa e instan al Estado 🇭🇳 a garantizar que los periodistas puedan ejercer su labor con libertad y seguridad, especialmente de cara a las elecciones generales. rsf.org/es/honduras-...

#Perú. El Centro PEN Peru publica su más reciente boletín de novedades. 🗞️‼️

PEN Canada is seeking nominations from peers and civil society partners for two annual awards: the Ken Filkow Prize, for advancing #freeexpression, and the Marie-Ange Garrigue Prize, for assisting a #writer in danger outside of Canada. The prizes are valued at $2,000 and $3,000, respectively.

"[These cuts] would disproportionately harm rural areas and smaller communities, where public media really is a lifeline," according to our Tim Richardson. Tell Congress to oppose proposed cuts to public media. Send a letter today. pen.org/saveindepend...

Helping a foreign writer get out of danger is a heroic act. Our Marie-Ange Garrigue Prize recognizes these heroes. Whether its offering aid, shelter, safe passage to freedom, or any number of ways a writer can be rescued — tell us the story of someone making a difference: buff.ly/s1weuzQ

In a vital victory for the freedom to read, two lawsuits regarding book bans in St. Francis, MN schools have been settled. "This is a win that belongs to many, and will reverberate far beyond the boundaries of a single school district," says @jonfreadom.bsky.social. pen.org/press-releas...