Proposed Texas Law Would Force Publishers to Create ‘Age Appropriate’ Ratings for School Library Books
“This is a dangerous escalation in the movement to censor public education. In a very short time, those who advocate for school censorship have gone from trying to control… More
Infrigement on Academic Freedom, as Dean Threatens to Punish Professor in Georgia Over Parent’s Complaint About Biology Lecture
Jeremy C. Young, senior manager of free expression and education at PEN America, said in a statement:“Dean Cornely’s response to this controversy is outrageous. Jones is clearly acting within… More
Universities Must Prioritize Both Campus Safety and Free Speech as Complementary, Not Competing Imperatives
During the past month, two public universities dealt with campus confrontations involving controversial speakers, student protesters, and apparent members of the Proud Boys, an organization heavily implicated in the… More
PEN America Urges NO Vote By Greenville, S.C. County Council on Vaguely-Worded Resolution to Censor Childrens’ Books in Libraries
Jonathan Friedman, director of PEN America’s Free Expression and Education program, made the following comments: “If passed, this resolution would be an exercise in censorship--ordering the Greenville County Library System… More
PEN America Presents “Censored: Free Speech and Hollywood” Nov. 16 at Central Los Angeles Public Library
By reviewing legislation and court decisions, exploring blacklisted artists, and the opening up of representation in the late 20th century, the discussion will explore controversies around representing some themes… More
PEN America Rejects Calls to Cancel New Book by Justice Amy Coney Barrett
"It is the role of major publishers to make available a wide array of ideas and perspectives. In so doing, they afford readers, critics, historians, and journalists insight that… More
An Interview with PEN/Robert J. Dau Prize Winner Catherine Bai
In the story, it’s food and drink that similarly offer the main character a bodily connection to her heritage, even when linguistic and cultural ties have been eroded. More
PEN America CEO: All Eyes on Elon Musk to Back Open and Civic Discourse on Twitter
PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel has made the following comment today in response to the announcement that Elon Musk has completed a $44 billion deal to takeover Twitter: “All eyes… More
Blanket Ban on Indoor Protest at U of Florida Amounts to “Prior Restraint on Dissent”
"Of course, we hope that protesters will not shut down, shout down, or obstruct speech, but argument and protest have their place on campuses, even when they grow heated.… More