New PEN America Analysis Points to Cracks in Florida’s Censorship Campaign
Katie Blankenship, director of PEN America’s Florida office, said: “By continuing to pass bills that are a knife to the heart of our Constitutional protections, Florida lawmakers are not… More
Illinois School District Board Withdraws from State Celebration of Children’s Literature Over Book on Racism and Antiracism
"The board's deliberations were plainly ideological,” said Jonathan Friedman, Sy Syms managing director, U.S. Free Expression Programs at PEN America. “This program is a wonderful opportunity for kids to… More
EveryLibrary and PEN America Oppose Proposed Huntington Beach, CA Ordinance for Community Review of Children’s Library Books
In a statement, the organizations said: “This proposed ordinance is nothing short of an effort to erect a censorship committee to police public access to literature. It has the… More
PEN America Calls on S.C. Library to Reverse Restriction on Books about Transgender Subjects
Kasey Meehan, Freedom to Read program director at PEN America, said the board should reverse its decision, which she said was based on “viewpoint discrimination” and noted that book… More
Prohibition of LGBTQ+ Books by Alabama Library Makes a “Mockery” of Free Expression
“The Autauga-Prattville Public Library’s newly appointed board is making a mockery of freedom of expression,” said Kasey Meehan, Freedom to Read program director at PEN America. “We are alarmed… More
Missouri Candidate Turns Flamethrower on LGBTQ-Themed Books
Queer: The Ultimate LGBTQ Guide for Teens by Kathy Belge and Marke Bieschke was among the books torched. Belge said: "LGBTQ teens are vulnerable and antics like this only… 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
PEN America Endorses “Fight Book Bans Act” Introduced in Congress To Help School Districts with Financial Burden of Book Bans
Laura Schroeder, Congressional affairs lead for PEN America, said: “Banning books in schools is not only unpopular; it’s expensive. As school districts around the country divert resources to address… More
PEN America Files Amicus Brief in Case Against Texas Law Requiring Ratings for Sexual Content on Books Sold to Public Schools
(NEW YORK)—PEN America has filed an amicus brief in the Fifth Circuit in the case of Book People v. Wong, challenging Texas’s HB 900, which requires booksellers to “rate”… More
Scholastic Urged to Explore Other Options Instead of Limiting or Partitioning Diverse Book Titles At School Book Fairs
Despite the challenges of this climate, we call on Scholastic to explore other solutions so they can reject any role in accommodating these nefarious laws and local pressures, or… More