Bookshops: join us to send messages of solidarity to imprisoned writers around the world
On 15 November, PEN centres around the world will be marking the annual Day of the Imprisoned Writer. English PEN’s flagship campaign PENWrites is an international letter-writing campaign in solidarity with writers in prison around the world. It aims to provide hope and comfort to imprisoned writers by sending them or their loved ones messages of solidarity from supporters here in the UK and beyond.
Countless individuals have spoken of how letters and messages they received provided much-needed moral support in extremely difficult circumstances, serving as a crucial reminder that they had not been forgotten. Others have spoken of how they were afforded better treatment in prison after receiving messages of solidarity from across the globe.
Here in the UK, English PEN will be marking the Day of the Imprisoned Writer by working with independent bookshops across the country to introduce local communities to PEN and invite them to engage with our work through PENWrites.
Bookshops are the cornerstone of communities – bringing together literature, cultures, and the arts to people across generations – which is why we want to partner with you in our PENWrites x Day of the Imprisoned Writer campaign.
This is such an important project when we think about freedom of expression and creativity across the world, and is very close to our hearts.
Meera Ghanshamdas, Round Table Books
We would warmly welcome your support for the campaign by:
- Displaying posters, postcards, and bookmarks in your shop
- Amplifying our campaign on social media
- Organising letter-writing events (please note, these would have to be self-organised)
- Sharing the campaign with your community
If you would be interested in joining the campaign, please sign up in the form below.
