What is the role of the writer in times like these?
At the 2025 #PENGala, we took the opportunity to pose that question to Rita Dove and @jodipicoult.bsky.social.
#writers #writing #freedomtowrite
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At the 2025 #PENGala, Wesleyan University President Michael Roth received the PEN/Benenson Courage Award for standing up to government assaults on higher education as well as for his commitment to academic freedom.
Read his full remarks: pen.org/wesleyan-uni... #Censorship #HigherEducation
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Dinaw Mengestu, author and PEN America trustee, pictured at the 2025 PEN America Literary Gala introducing the PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award for Egyptian poet Galal El-Behairy with a quote that reads: "Oppressive regimes know that the shortest path to eroding our collective freedom to right, to think, is to attack those whose lives are built out of language.".
At the #PENGala, novelist and PEN America trustee Dinaw Mengestu presented the 2025 PEN/Barbey #FreedomToWrite award to Egyptian poet, lyricist, and pro-democracy activist Galal El-Behairy who was arrested and has been unjustly imprisoned since 2018 on multiple charges. More: pen.org/press-releas...
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Read USA Today's report on the speeches and honorees at the 2025 #PENGala: www.usatoday.com/story/entert...
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PEN America Honors Literary Giants and Advocates at Annual Gala theknockturnal.com/pen-america-... #PENGala
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Author and PEN America President Jennifer Finney Boylan speaks at the 2025 PEN America Literary Gala. A quote from her speech reads: "No one can be erased just because others close their eyes, or, worse, attempt to ban the books that contain the stories about their lives."
At the 2025 #PENGala, @jennyboylan.bsky.social, author and president of PEN America’s board of trustees, spoke of explosive challenges to free expression emanating from Washington, rebuking the current administration for its campaign against programs that support diversity, equity and inclusion.
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Michael Roth, President of Wesleyan University, speaks at the 2025 PEN America Literary Gala, where he received the PEN/Benson Courage Award. A quote from his speech reads: "Complacency about our freedoms, we now see, can lead to complicity in tyranny. It's time we wake up."
At the 2025 #PENGala, we honored @wesleyanuniversity.bsky.social President Michael Roth with the PEN/Benenson Courage Award for standing up to government assaults on higher education as well as for his commitment to academic freedom.
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At the 2025 #PENGala, Sarah Jessica Parker, @tayediggs.bsky.social, @jodipicoult.bsky.social warn against threats to free speech, libraries www.usatoday.com/story/entert...
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Amber Ruffin speaks as host of the 2025 PEN America Literary Gala. Image includes quote by her that reads: “Free speech is something we have to fight for. We can joke about it – until we can’t. That’s the reality of where we’re at right now.” PEN America logo appears at bottom right.
At the 2025 PEN America Gala, comedian and writer Amber Ruffin, host for the evening, underscored the perils of the moment driven by government censorship: “Free speech is something we have to fight for. We can joke about it – until we can’t. That’s the reality of where we’re at right now.” #PENGala
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Literary supporters, including Amber Ruffin and Sarah Jessica Parker, called for the right to free speech at the 2025 PEN America Literary Gala.
people.com/amber-ruffin... #PENGala
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More than 600 supporters of writers and free expression gathered for the 2025 PEN America Literary Gala to celebrate the freedoms to write, read and speak and to honor defenders of these rights at a perilous moment.
Read more: pen.org/press-releas... #PENGala
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Literary world gathers for PEN America dinner-gala hosted by Amber Ruffin www.8newsnow.com/entertainmen... #PENGala
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