Decision by University of St. Thomas to Ban Speaker is “Wrongheaded,” Says PEN America
Jonathan Friedman, director of the Free Expression and Education program, stated: “The decision by the University of St. Thomas to ban Michael Knowles from campus is unfortunate and wrongheaded. Bans… More
For Educational Gag Orders, The Vagueness Is The Point
We find that instead of clarifying the laws, guidance documents have muddied the waters, further eroding academic freedom and students’ right to learn. More
Conservatives Oppose Educational Gag Orders, Too
Casual observers of the recent wave of educational gag orders could be forgiven for thinking that views on this issue are perfectly polarized along ideological lines. Conservatives support these… More
Educational Gag Orders Seek to Enforce Compulsory Patriotism
Three New Bills Become Law in Florida, Mississippi, and South Dakota Monthly Roundup, March This post is part of a series from PEN America tracking the progress of educational gag orders… More
In Response to Reported Disruption of Yale Law School Civil Liberties Forum, PEN America Says Dissent Should not Cross a Line to Censor Speakers
Cases like these implicate speech rights on the part of invited guests as well as the rights of protesting students. Both are entitled an opportunity to get their ideas… More
Educational Gag Orders Target Speech about LGBTQ+ Identities With New Prohibitions and Punishments
The effort to censor anti-LGBTQ identities in the classroom is expanding rapidly. More
In Higher Education, New Educational Gag Orders Would Exert Unprecedented Control Over College Teaching
In 2022, educational gag orders are being aimed squarely at colleges and universities to exert ideological control over what is being taught and read in classrooms. More
Steep Rise in Gag Orders, Many Sloppily Drafted
Over the last three weeks, 65 bills have been formally introduced in state legislatures across the country, a rate of roughly three bills per day. More
PEN America’s Free Expression Advocacy Institutes
PEN America’s Free Expression Advocacy Institutes are signature educational programs on free expression issues in the United States and worldwide. More
New Stop W.O.K.E. Act Fits Disturbing Pattern in Education Culture War
Governor DeSantis’s Stop W.O.K.E. Act, while undoubtedly aggressive, is no aberration. On the contrary, it is increasingly—and disturbingly—business as usual. More
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The latest in #bookban news: a website to "rate" kids' books that appears objective but is another tool of the banning advocates. Shows the increasing organization & coordination of the whole ban movement. H/t @veronikellymars https://bookriot.com/moms-for-liberty-booklooks/
How do the arts lead to change? How do you maintain a social justice perspective in the arts? What does it mean to be an artivist? The Literary Action Coalition and @BronxArtsorg will address these questions and more during our May 18th panel discussion. https://bit.ly/38jwfHG
