March Featured Cases: Celebrating Courageous Women Writers
On International Women’s Day, we highlight the cases of three women who are courageously exercising their right to freedom of expression in the face of dire threats and working… More
Atena Farghadani | Status: Released | Iran
Atena Farghadani is an Iranian artist and political activist. She was first arrested in August 2014 for a cartoon she drew lampooning a family planning law, which depicted lawmakers… More
Join PEN America Today
Defend free expression, support persecuted writers, and promote literary culture.
Subscribe
Get updates on events, literary awards, free expression issues, and global news.
Alert Us
PEN America On 
The Vandegrift High School #BannedBookClub is one of many teen-led efforts nationwide.
“Teachers are afraid of losing their jobs,” @jonfreadom said. “Principals only have so much that they can do in the face of school boards. But students can protest. Students can speak out.”
How do books end up banned in schools? It’s not the rational process you might think it is, explains #PENAmerica’s book bans expert @jonfreadom (Jonathan Friedman). In one #Florida school district, a warning label has been stuck on a book about babies. #censorship #freadom #1A
"Back-to-school time is here, so why not get your kids in the mood with some #LGBTQ-inclusive picture books set in schools?... Here are a few of my favorites... that focus on... school moments of being welcoming, supportive, and inclusive." https://mombian.com/2022/08/11/12-lgbtq-inclusive-kids-books-for-back-to-school/ via @mombian