Florida School District Slaps Stigmatizing and Alarming Warning Labels on Books Deemed “Unsuitable” for Children
Jonathan Friedman, director of free expression and education programs at PEN America, said in response: “This alarming development is just the latest in an onslaught of attacks against students’… More
Ban on 52 Books in Largest Utah School District is a Worrisome Escalation of Censorship
“This is a concerning escalation of the book banning we saw last school year. Elected officials and attorneys general are now easing and encouraging banning, facilitating the fulfillment of… More
Protest Over Books by Amazon Workers Was “Counterproductive” By Silencing Celebrants at a Pride Month Event
“Workers at Amazon have a right to protest the sale of books they find objectionable. But doing so at a company event celebrating the start of Pride Month through… More
PEN America Calls Restriction of 400 Books in Texas Predictable, Unfortunate
Today, PEN America denounced North East ISD, one of the largest school districts in Texas, for removing more than 400 books for review while responding to a request from… More
The PEN Pod: On Book Bans with George M. Johnson
“I’m proud that they’re trying to stop my truth in many ways. I can’t be intimidated. I mean, I put my story out there for the world to see,… More
PEN America Denounces Texas House Committee’s Investigation into School Districts’ Books on Race, Sexuality, and Gender
The investigation comes at a time when books addressing these issues are being challenged in schools across Texas. More
Banned Books Week: A Reading List
In honor of this year’s Banned Books Week, we have gathered a list of books—both classic and contemporary titles—that have been challenged by school districts, governments, and other bodies… More
Statement: Reports the National Enquirer Is Trying to Curb Publication of Ronan Farrow Book
"Threatening a libel suit for a book that has not yet been released--and which Howard appears not to have read--is not only absurd but a reprehensible attempt at censorship. That this threat… More
DARE: State Department Bars Press Corps from Pompeo Briefing, Won’t Release List of Attendees
State Department excludes its press corps from a briefing call with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and says it won't distribute a transcript or list of... More
Alert Us
Are you an artist at risk or know someone who is?
PEN America On 
I’m heading to Florida for this. We all need to be speaking out against book banning, censorship, erasure, and eliminationism. https://twitter.com/splcenter/status/1637514283952005122
Let Florida Read!
Join us Tuesday in Tally as we celebrate our constitutional right to read alongside amazing authors, students, educators of @FloridaMediaEd, @PENamerica, @diversebooks, @splcenter, @DemocracyFwd, & @EveryLibrary.
Register:
https://www.fftrp.org/let_florida_read_event
Literature knows no frontiers. Yet books today are under profound attack. I'm joining @PENAmerica in the fight to defend the freedom to read. Sign and share this petition to show your support for diverse literature and writers across the country. https://bit.ly/33MOt24?source=twitter&