Writers’ group PEN America, which consists of many well known writers and novelists, has filed a lawsuit in federal court in New York against President Donald Trump for ‘violations of America’s First Amendment’.
The group is attempting to “stop President Trump from using the machinery of government to retaliate or threaten reprisals against journalists and media outlets for coverage he dislikes”. The First Amendment of the US constitution protects freedom of speech and PEN aren’t the only group to voice concerns about how Trump has attempted to shut down journalism.
Novelist Jennifer Egan is the current president of PEN America, she and the organisation’s chief executive officer Suzanna Nossel have revealed the lawsuit in an open letter posted on the PEN America website.
The letter addresses Trump’s record both towards press journalism and book publishing saying “President Trump’s tirades against the press are not new. His cries of ‘fake news’ are an almost daily occurrence. The White House has called for individual journalists to be fired, and the president has referred to the media as ‘the enemy of the American people.’ This has created an environment of hostility toward the media wherein journalists have been subject to death threats, needed bodyguards to cover political rallies, and have faced attacks in their newsrooms. The president has also threatened book publishers and authors who have published critical volumes. ”
They believe that this causes an environment of hostility towards the media, causing journalists to be subject to death threats and fears about writing the truth, something PEN say is a direct threat to the First Amendment. The President has also threatened book publishers and authors who have published critical volumes and spoken out against his policies. A consequence of this may be that individual writers may think twice about publishing pieces or commentary that could put them at odds of the White House.
The lawsuit has been filed in conjunction with nonpartisan nonprofit organisation Protect Democracy and the Yale Law School Media Freedom and Information Access Clinic. At the time of writing, Trump had not responded to the suit.
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