PEN America Crafts Toolkit for Defending Free Expression

PEN America guides writer-protestors to actionable items following this weekend's historic marches, with "Defending Free Expression: A Toolkit For Writers and Readers." Launched in keeping with Masha Gessen's warning on November 10 ("Prepare yourself"), the toolkit seeks "to help authors, journalists, artists, and others who exercise creative expression mount a defense of their craft and core freedoms."

We start by identifying the warning signs of a developing autocracy that is taking steps to curtail the rights of citizens. Then, we suggest specific actions writers and readers can take to protect our First Amendment rights. And finally, we share the advice of others with experience in countering anti-democratic forces hostile to free expression.

This toolkit is part of PEN America’s #LouderTogether campaign to stand as a bulwark defending free expression, free assembly, the diversity of voices, and the force of reason. It is a work in progress and we will update it regularly; we welcome your contributions at [email protected].

A useful portion:

7. Exercise your right to free speech by using the power of words to counter disinformation, hate speech, and moves against the First Amendment.
Letters to the editors and opinion pieces have long been a tool for citizen activists. Newspapers and online media outlets serving your community will have information on how to submit. There are many other creative ways to commit to sounding the alarm against hate speech and disinformation, from skits to leafleting to skywriting. Google “creative ways to protest’’ to get ideas. You can also learn more about how to speak out against bigotry and counter hate speech online, and particularly on Twitter.

8. Learn how to identify “fake news” and disinformation, and help others to do so, too.
Read up on best practices in news literacy, including ways to spot false stories and how help to stop spreading this disinformation further. Use and support fact checking initiatives.

9. Connect with others.
There is strengthen in numbers, and much to be done. Find a community group that works on a cause you care about and volunteer. Learn how to be an active witness if you see a hate crime, and come to the aid of victims of bigotry in public places.

10. Seek out and share works that consider the growth of authoritarian regimes and how to defend free expression and press freedoms.
Whether you set out on a personal exploration or form a book club to widen the discussion, there are many titles to choose among. PEN America staff point to books such as Bad News: Last Journalists in a Dictatorship (on our 2017 Literary Awards longlist) or the more classic There’s No Such Thing as Free Speech (winner of the 1994 PEN Literary Award for the Art of the Essay).

Find the full toolkit (with links to resources) at PEN America.