PEN America Launches U.S. Safety Program for Authors Facing Harassment

PEN America, a prominent organization advocating for free expression, has launched the U.S. Safety Program in collaboration with a coalition of publishers and literary agencies. This initiative aims to address the increasing harassment faced by authors, illustrators, and translators, particularly in light of rising censorship efforts across the United States. The program will provide safety training and resources to support writers who are experiencing threats and abuse.

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Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf, co-CEO of PEN America, highlighted the urgency of the program by stating that many authors are "under siege," dealing with a continuous stream of online and in-person harassment. Viktorya Vilk, who oversees PEN's digital safety initiatives, noted that the trend of harassment began to escalate around the time of Donald Trump's election in 2016 and has since expanded to include writers and educators. Authors such as Maia Kababe, Jon Evison, and George Johnson have publicly shared their experiences of being targeted for their work.

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Ashley Hope Pérez, whose young adult novel "Out of Darkness" faced censorship due to its sensitive content, described the personal impact of this harassment. She reported receiving hate mail and threatening phone calls, prompting her to remove her office contact information. Such experiences underscore the real dangers that authors face in their professional lives.

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PEN America has successfully raised nearly $1 million to support the U.S. Safety Program, with contributions from major publishing houses including Hachette Book Group, Macmillan Publishers, and Penguin Random House. Notable authors like Jodi Picoult, Jennifer Egan, and Lee Child are participating in fundraising efforts by auctioning character names for future novels, with proceeds directed towards the safety program.

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David Shelley, CEO of Hachette, emphasized the critical nature of the program, stating, “There have probably never been as many threats to authors’ safety as there are currently in the U.S. We’re proud to support this much-needed program from PEN America that will give writers a wide range of professional resources to help them deal with threats to their safety, online and offline.”

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While the initiative has garnered support from many in the literary community, some critics argue that the focus on safety may inadvertently stifle free expression by creating an environment of fear. Concerns have been raised about whether such programs could lead to self-censorship among authors wary of backlash.

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As the U.S. Safety Program unfolds, PEN America plans to build on previous initiatives, including digital safety workshops conducted for Hachette authors in 2023. The organization aims to expand its outreach and resources to further protect authors facing harassment and to foster a safer environment for literary expression.

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• “We have heard from countless authors, illustrators, and translators who are under siege, fending off a steady stream of abuse and threats, online and at book events,” — Clarisse Rosaz Shariyf, Co-CEO, PEN America

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• “I got hate mail and all kinds of ugly phone calls,” — Ashley Hope Pérez, Author

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