PEN America Initiates Safety Program to Protect Authors from Harassment
PEN America, a prominent free expression organization, has launched a U.S. Safety Program aimed at protecting authors from harassment and threats. This initiative comes in response to increasing censorship efforts and abuse faced by writers, illustrators, and translators. Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf, co-chief executive officer of PEN America, emphasized the need for the literary community to support authors who are under siege. The program will offer safety training and resources, backed by nearly $1 million in contributions from major publishers like Hachette Book Group, Macmillan Publishers, and Penguin Random House. Authors such as Maia Kababe, Jon Evison, and George Johnson have reported harassment, with some facing physical assaults. Ashley Hope Pérez, whose novel 'Out of Darkness' was targeted for its content, shared her experience of receiving hate mail and threats, leading her to remove her office contact information. 
