The Perilous State of Academic Freedom and Free Expression in Education
PEN America and PEN International jointly submit a contribution to the Special Rapporteur’s report on academic freedom in educational institutions. More
‘The Color Purple’ and 30 Other Banned and Challenged Books You Should Be Watching
Dozens of banned and challenged books have been adapted for the screen, and while they aren’t all Oscar nominees, many are as beloved as the books. More
Khaled Hosseini Shares Heartfelt Letter to Book Banners
The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini was returned to shelves in Brevard County, Florida. Hosseini wrote a letter to the school board citing the letters he receives from students… More
25 books banned in Marietta, Georgia, over parent objections
Eleven of the 25 books banned in Marietta are written by LGBTQ+ authors and/or include LGBTQ+ characters. More
PEN America Speaks: How We Defended and Celebrated Free Expression The Week of Jan. 8
PEN America works tirelessly to defend free expression, support persecuted writers, and promote literary culture. Here are some of the latest ways PEN America is speaking out. More
In Win For Free Expression, Judge Rules Lawsuit Challenging Escambia County, FL Book Bans Can Move Forward
Katie Blankenship, director of PEN America’s Florida office, issued the following statement: “Today, we urged the court to vindicate the Constitutional rights of students, parents, authors and publishers. We are… More
Oral Arguments Set for 1/10 on Groundbreaking Federal Lawsuit Challenging Book Bans in Florida
Katie Blankenship, PEN America’s Florida director, said: “School libraries are not state propaganda centers. They are meant to be sites of inquiry, where students can encounter a diverse range… More
More than 1,600 books banned in Escambia County, Florida
Five dictionaries are on Escambia County's list of more than 1,600 books banned pending investigation in December 2023, along with eight different encyclopedias, The Guinness Book of World Records,… More
PEN America Speaks: How We Defended and Celebrated Free Expression The Week of Jan. 1
PEN America works tirelessly to defend free expression, support persecuted writers, and promote literary culture. Here are some of the latest ways PEN America is speaking out. More
Nearly 700 books, including celebrity bestsellers, banned in Orange County, Florida
Nearly 700 books, including recent bestsellers by Jon Stewart and Amy Poehler and classics by Maya Angelou, Ovid, and Marcel Proust, were removed from classrooms in Orange County, Florida,… More