Oklahoma teacher is still fighting book bans, now from Brooklyn
Summer Boismier lost her job after she gave students a QR code to the Brooklyn Public Library’s Books Unbanned project. Now she’s helping teens fight book bans. More
Reported Decision by Morocco to Withdraw Lesbian Diaries Title from International Book Fair Violates Free Speech and Artistic Expression
“Withdrawing Lesbian Diaries violates Fatima Zahra Amzkar’s rights to free speech and artistic expression while also undermining the rights of LGBTQ+ communities to equality and dignity. The International Book… More
Banning of Non-English Dictionaries in Michigan Prisons Tramples on Fundamental Rights
"To punish a broad segment of the prison population is short-sighted, in addition to trampling on prisoners’ fundamental rights.” More
Firing of Princeton University Professor Raises Questions Over Free Expression and Due Process
Without clear indications that offensive speech forms part of a pattern of harassing conduct, the expression of controversial or even offensive views should not be the impetus for the… More
Florida High School Activist Jack Petocz, Organizer of Protests Against Book Bans and “Don’t Say Gay” Bill, Honored with 2022 PEN/Benenson Courage Award
Asia Kate Dillon said: “I hear from young people that seeing my character on Billions has helped them understand their own gender identity – and that this allowed them… More
In a Moment of Dire Threat to Free Expression, PEN America Literary Gala Celebrates Writers, Visionaries, and Truth-Tellers
PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel said: “In unimaginable times, we need the imagination, and specifically authors’ imaginations as manifest in the written word, to force us to reckon with… More
PEN America CEO to U.S. House Panel: Book Bans and Educational Gag Orders are ‘an Orchestrated Effort to Polarize, Intimidate, and Restrict Flow of Ideas’
Nossel, a former diplomat and veteran human rights advocate, warned that these disturbing trends at home tarnish America’s global image and undermine the effort to counter rising authoritarianism. “As… More
Removing Tenure and Faculty Status for Librarians at Texas A&M University Would Be “Fundamentally Misguided”
"Texas is at the epicenter of a nationwide book banning frenzy, and the state's lieutenant governor has made no secret of his political attacks on higher education. Given their… More
Writer Andrey Kurkov: Ukrainians Will Never Abandon Faith in Human Rights or Hope for Freedom
“The level of journalism traditionally shows the level of democracy in society. We can see how independent journalism is being destroyed by the example of annexed Crimea,” he said.… More
Writers Delegation from Ukraine to Meet with Biden Administration Officials, Members of Congress May 16-17
In addition to human rights and freedom of expression concerns, the delegation will raise issues including preserving Ukraine’s literary and cultural heritage (publishing and related activities); support to writers… More
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PEN America On 
Outstanding piece by @andreacgore, Vacek Chair in pharmacology/professor of psychology at UT-Austin, defending faculty tenure against SB 18. She argues that immunotherapy would not exist if UT-Austin had not given tenure to its discoverer. https://www.houstonchronicle.com/opinion/outlook/article/university-texas-andrea-gore-professor-tenure-17816783.php
What does academic freedom mean now, and how might it change?
Here's our whole Future Trends Forum conversation with @ACEducation and @PENamerica researchers:
https://youtu.be/nQ8Kl0XJIr0
#FTTE
HT @roxannriskin
#RIP John Woods, Masterly Translator of Thomas Mann, Dies at 80
Woods was the recipient of two PEN America Translation awards, in 1981 and 1987
https://www.nytimes.com/2023/03/24/books/john-woods-dead.html?unlocked_article_code=l2BVLYlz1s2E6Jj-w9wuXxKMTrTuFBKAH_pxlFgj6UEgFGD3vXQEOhqVwAotjPgykwJC-NhRHTc5-9HCQpBJ4yCNKDEooSFdgI6YQ4a9jdbpoPHeyPNLmgfBztwRbWC58GKq28Mead5bbyfKdteJHA0U2HesfQmTk5oTWjVYmgkTVxpPk0C-yonoUK3gW-idLUAeR8IOWNJ8MWWrZ_AiPOM1ch59MnKrZQ7OrwHqp19CWMAfxGG_i9SN1tjir2DlKiTzk25A2lh-mrSvY9Zv0Stx14hmNsu87Ls_D0VUR-_qe0NDRb_UA23pztFUks7V7OeL0O6mpw&smid=url-share