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Authors Join PEN America in Protest Over Banned Books in Rockingham VA Schools
“We are concerned not only about the recent ban, but also the limitations on public discourse,” said Kasey Meehan, Freedom to Read program director at PEN America. “It is… More
More than 50 Books Removed from Rockingham County, Virginia, Schools
PEN America sent a letter to Rockingham County, Virginia schools protesting its recent book bans. These are the books banned in Rockingham County. More
Advocating for Free Expression at the UN: Recommendations for Protecting Writers and Dissidents in Vietnam
PEN America delivered an oral statement at the Fourth UPR Cycle pre-session in Geneva providing recommendations to protect writers and dissidents at risk in Vietnam. More
U.S. House Probe of Harvard U Should be Carried Out with “Great Restraint,” Respect for Academic Freedom and Institutional Autonomy
“This investigation is turning into a fishing expedition,” said Jeremy Young, director, Freedom to Learn program at PEN America. “The charges of antisemitism at Harvard are serious and demand… More
Nebraska lawmakers are considering damaging DEI and tenure bans
Legislators in Nebraska are hard at work undermining higher education in the state in the name of destroying “woke” ideologies. More
Florida Flag Law Would Chill Free Expression in Schools and Colleges, If Passed
In response to the bill, Katie Blankenship, director of PEN America Florida, said: “This vague bill will chill personal and political expression in our K-12 schools and universities,” said… More
PEN America Applauds Reintroduction of the Saving Local News Act
“The retreat of local news across the country has starved Americans of information necessary for effective democratic citizenship,” said Interim Washington Director Hadar Harris. “By easing news organizations’ ability… More
PEN America Speaks: How We Defended and Celebrated Free Expression The Week of February 5
PEN America works tirelessly to defend free expression, support persecuted writers, and promote literary culture. Here are some of the latest ways PEN America is speaking out. More
Quiet Rewrite of Barnard College Policy Appears to be an Effort to Suppress Speech
“The swift rollout of these new website policies, without faculty consultation, makes plain that they are a response to pro-Palestinian speech that someone wanted to suppress,” said Jonathan Friedman,… More
Missouri Candidate Turns Flamethrower on LGBTQ-Themed Books
Queer: The Ultimate LGBTQ Guide for Teens by Kathy Belge and Marke Bieschke was among the books torched. Belge said: "LGBTQ teens are vulnerable and antics like this only… More