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PEN America: Florida Engages in “Witch Hunt” to Find Out How Public Colleges and Universities are Spending Funds Related to Diversity, Equality, and Inclusion

Press ReleaseJanuary 6, 2023

Jeremy C. Young, senior manager, free expression and education at PEN America, issued the following statement: “The governor’s request looks more like a witch hunt than a serious effort to… More

Reading Between the Lines: Race, Equity, and Book Publishing

ReportOctober 21, 2022

PEN America undertook this report to better understand why the debate over the lack of diversity in publishing has seemed to stagnate, or to progress only in fits and… More

From left to right, headshots of Cheryl Willis Hudson and Fatima Shaik.

PEN Pals: Fatima Shaik Interviews Cheryl Willis Hudson

InterviewMarch 18, 2022

"We have unique histories, songs, stories, and languages but far too many people refer to us in biased and inaccurate ways." More

photo of Debbie Reese and Margarita Engle

PEN Pals: Margarita Engle Interviews Debbie Reese

InterviewFebruary 11, 2022

"We have unique histories, songs, stories, and languages but far too many people refer to us in biased and inaccurate ways." More

Margarita Engle and Padma Venkatraman headshots

PEN Pals: Margarita Engle and Padma Venkatraman Use Words as Bridges

InterviewJanuary 11, 2022

“I knew that poetry could help me feel empathy and compassion as well as joy. I hoped that would be true for young readers and writers too.” More

Headshots and names of Neil Gaiman, George M. Johnson, Ashley Hope Pérez, Christine Emeran, and Jonathan Friedman; to the right: “And Student Activists from York, PA; Southlake, TX; and Kansas City, MO”; at the bottom: “Fighting Book Bans: A National Teach-In”

[VIRTUAL] Fighting Book Bans: A Teach-In for Students

Wednesday, December 15, 2021 | 8:00 pm – 9:30 pm ET
 More Information
George M. Johnson headshot

The PEN Pod: On Book Bans with George M. Johnson

InterviewNovember 19, 2021

“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

Saraciea J. Fennell headshot

The PEN Pod: On Diverse Latinx Voices and Identities with Saraciea J. Fennell

InterviewNovember 5, 2021

“You can imagine how intense it is to navigate the world when you are constantly having to prove your identity, constantly having to reaffirm, ‘This is who I am.’” More

Masked students holding signs outside Central York High School

The PEN Pod: On Protesting Book Bans with the Students of York, PA

InterviewOctober 22, 2021

“We saw. . . what was happening at our school and we wanted to take immediate action. . . . Because we knew we had to do it.” More

Stack of open books with pages fanned out and with red overlay in background; on top: “Free Speech Live! A biweekly virtual forum for students. How to Beat Book Bans featuring special guest: Jonathan Friedman, Director, Free Expression and Education, PEN America”

[VIRTUAL] Free Speech Live!: How to Beat Book Bans

Wednesday, October 27, 2021 | 6:30 pm – 7:45 pm ET
 More Information

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Salman Rushdie’s New Novel Turns a Spotlight On the Enduring Power of Stories
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jonfreadom Jonathan Friedman 📚 @jonfreadom ·
14h

More book purging in FLORIDA https://twitter.com/FLFreedomRead/status/1620457139272814593

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penamerica PEN America @penamerica ·
11h

DeSantis' "disturbing pattern of silencing Black voices and aggressive attempts to erase Black history is one of the most visible examples of performative white supremacy since the presidency of Donald Trump"—@JNelsonLDF

#BlackHistoryMonth Read free: https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/31/opinion/ron-desantis-black-history.html?unlocked_article_code=ihVqWDErMhDhg6k3c2neR43rmBDQJ-ZGYT0K4vIFW1656Ol0iuuZCoNguhERybhjjHxY_on_saXa1h9dkfw4PMDyAPhEB81Z2MpF4xFhXcbJwvM3ob4crJCqdCgSJqnNfCO6oS-22DixWt6x8kbeIm5sTyHf_GuWD9-Z0qQ1WQNc1xI8CWRh9RZWEiM_VppdwfREB89x9Hw6BWDN-Srt5ATsifYAGobICcqo3HRKlmhVrGEsAWrxXhQ-GJpCUKKAt5ClgarNNHZl6yQ8wQ26Y6UQ5HIuR4kR-0CMl0d3rx1RpK92k07qb6HFWf07qSe8morMKPioGBNgZFVkqtJA7AHGwro&smid=share-url

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penamerica PEN America @penamerica ·
12h

On Feb 14, 6-7 pm, Brooklyn Public Library @BKLYNlibrary will be screening "The Satanic Verses: 30 Years On", a documentary about the controversy surrounding @SalmanRushdie's 1988 novel and the freedom of speech debate it sparked. Sign up: https://www.bklynlibrary.org/calendar/litfilm-2023-satanic-central-library-dweck-20230214

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