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
Scope and Speed of Educational Gag Orders Worsening Across the Country
In the month since the release of our report, educational gag orders have grown more sweeping in scope and become law with increasing speed. More
Here Are Four Things Educational Gag Orders Could Ban
We offer illustrative examples of texts, documents, and discourse that educational gag orders could bar from being taught or discussed in classrooms. More
Four Reasons Why Educational Gag Orders Are Dangerous
As PEN America outlined in its new report, state legislators introduced 54 educational gag orders in the first nine months of 2021; 11 of them have become law. More
The PEN Pod: On Our Gala, Free Speech in Higher Ed, and Facebook Algorithms with Suzanne Nossel
“Nurturing the community in that way, creating these opportunities to get together, we see as part of our role at PEN America, and we were glad to be able… More
PEN America Decries Cancellation of Scholar’s Lecture at MIT
An upcoming talk by University of Chicago professor Dorian Abbot has reportedly been cancelled by the chair of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology earth, atmospheric and planetary sciences department. More
Thai University Takes Action Against Student Free Speech Advocate
A prominent university in Thailand earlier this month capitulated to a pressure campaign and retaliated against a student leader and free speech advocate in a country with strict laws… More
Arizona Senate to Vote on Budget Including “Divisive Concepts” Provisions
The Arizona state senate is set to vote this week on a state budget that includes a set of provisions prohibiting teachers, administrators, and other school district employees from… More