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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

Press ReleaseMay 24, 2022

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

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’

Press ReleaseMay 19, 2022

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

South Dakota School District May Physically Destroy its Banned Books, a Move PEN America Says Reflects “Uncompromising Extremism”

Press ReleaseMay 6, 2022

Books, words, and works of literature are being seen as so objectionable that they must be obliterated. PEN America calls on the Rapid City Area School Board to resist… More

Statement: Florida Rejection of Math Textbooks Raises Question Over Whether Politics Guided Decision

Press ReleaseApril 18, 2022

"The Florida Department of Education's rejection of 41 percent of math textbooks submitted to the state--including 71 percent of textbooks for grades K-5-- on the grounds that they include… More

Suspending Access to Library App Epic! Disregards Students First Amendment Rights, Says PEN America

Press ReleaseApril 8, 2022

Suspending access to 40,000 books without adherence to appropriate process, and with utter disregard for the First Amendment rights of the tens of thousands of students impacted, is a… More

Report: 1,586 School Book Bans and Restrictions in 86 School Districts Across 26 States

Press ReleaseApril 7, 2022

Book bans have targeted 1,145 unique book titles by 874 different authors, 198 illustrators, and 9 translators, impacting the literary, scholarly, and creative work of 1,081 people altogether. Texas… More

Stacks-of-hardcovers

Florida Bill Would Let Parents and Citizens Challenge Any Book Used in Schools

Press ReleaseMarch 11, 2022

"HB 1467 has been touted as a measure to increase school transparency," said Jonathan Friedman, director of PEN America's Free Expression and Education program, "but the real aim is… More

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  • What's New
Sample Script About Book Bans for School Board Meetings
What to Say About Book Bans at School Board and Library Meetings
PEN America condemns Polish government attacks on prize-winning Polish filmmaker Agnieszka Holland
Dailihana Alfonseca
Dailihana Alfonseca | 2023 PEN/Robert J. Dau Prize Winner

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