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Letter: Organizations Demand Prison E-Book Readers Drop Access Fees During COVID-19

Open Letter

TO: Dave Abel, President and CEO of Aventiv Technologies, Inc (parent company of Securus Technologies and JPay) Deborah Alderson, CEO of Global Tel Link (GTL)    We, the undersigned, are a coalition of… More

shelves of books in a library

Tennessee’s Parental Oversight of Public Libraries Act Would Censor Books, Jail Librarians

Press ReleaseFebruary 24, 2020

“This bill would empower a small group of people to act as morality police for entire communities and would punish libraries and librarians who act to safeguard the fundamental… More

shelves of books in a library

Proposed Book Banning Bill in Missouri Could Imprison Librarians

Press ReleaseJanuary 15, 2020

(New York, NY) – A bill proposed in Missouri this month represents a transparent, shameful attempt to legalize book banning in public libraries within the state, PEN America said… More

light on an open book, pencil, and glasses

PEN America: Kansas Prison Book Ban Repeats State’s Prior Mistakes

Press ReleaseDecember 9, 2019

“Kansas’ decision to eliminate their banned books list seemed like something to celebrate. But this new list of banned books suggests a Pyrrhic victory." More

light on an open book, pencil, and glasses

Pay-Per-Minute E-Readers in West Virginia Prisons Jeopardize Access to Literature

Press ReleaseNovember 22, 2019

“If you want to demonstrate how misguided prison policies towards access to literature have become, this serves as a perfect example." More

light on an open book, pencil, and glasses

PEN America Welcomes Ruling to Revise Book Restriction Policies in Arizona Prisons

Press ReleaseNovember 11, 2019

"The ruling out of Arizona is a significant step forward for the First Amendment and for our fight for access to literature in sites of incarceration." More

light on an open book, pencil, and glasses

PEN America Report Explores Pernicious Practice of Banning Books in Nation’s Prisons

Press ReleaseSeptember 24, 2019

"Literature offers a lifeline for incarcerated people in the midst of a dehumanizing system." More

illustration for prison book ban

As Part of National Banned Books Week, PEN America to Focus on the Right to Read in the Nation’s Prisons

Press ReleaseSeptember 12, 2019

“With all of our societal focus on how to make the criminal justice system more just and less self-defeating, vindicating the right to read in prison is an obvious… More

Banned Books Week: Book Challenges May Deprive Students of Critical Life Lessons

Press ReleaseSeptember 26, 2016

Censorship in schools and libraries is more prevalent than you think, says new report NEW YORK—A persistent pattern of attempts to remove certain books from public schools and libraries, combined… More

Schools continue to grapple with ‘Huckleberry Finn’

By: Justine McDaniel | December 11, 2015

After The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn was published in 1885, the book was boycotted in some places in the United States for portraying friendship between a black man and… More

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  • What's New
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PEN America Supports Powell’s Decision to Continue Selling Controversial Book
Mateo Askaripour headshot
The PEN Ten: An Interview with Mateo Askaripour
PEN Out Loud featured speakers and interlocutors. First row (left to right): Concepción de León, Isabel Allende, Rebecca Makkai, Brandon Hobson and Jia Tolentino. Second row (left to right): Kazuo Ishiguro, Garth Greenwell, R.O. Kwon, Melissa Febos, and Brandon Taylor
PEN America Announces Winter PEN Out Loud Literary Conversation Lineup
Scaffolding and demonstrators gathered at the Capitol
FAQs on Free Speech and the Capitol Hill Insurrection

Alert Us

Are you an artist at risk or know someone who is?

PEN America On  

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AttorneyNoraNora Benavidez@AttorneyNora·
12h

The next 10+ days will be challenging for reporters & newsrooms. Our coalition — Am. Press Institute, Election SOS, First Draft, Hearken, PEN America, Protect Democracy & Trusting News — culled resources to help keep you safe & w/ tips on covering unrest. https://docs.google.com/document/d/1usjFsWq7hF49XmQ38bIE8ycY3nT-ZbV_B7M_DZH3ALU/mobilebasic

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Retweet on TwitterPEN America Retweeted
TrustingNewsTrusting News@TrustingNews·
16h

For anyone covering civil unrest and whatever the news cycle might bring next week, here’s a two-pager of resources from a coalition of journalism support orgs. Stay safe, everyone. https://bit.ly/inauguration-2pager

@firstdraftnews @PENamerica @protctdemocracy @wearehearken @AmPress

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PENamericaPEN America@PENamerica·
16h

Is it right for Twitter to shut down 70,000 QAnon-related accounts? What about Facebook blocking #StopTheSteal? Check out PEN America's take on these questions & more in this guide of FAQs on free speech issues raised by the insurrection on Capitol Hill: https://bit.ly/38CjOnz.

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