For First Time, Oklahoma Education Officials Punish Two School Districts for Violating Gag Order on Teaching Race and Gender
“This case demonstrates the dangerous chilling effect gag orders can have,” said Jeremy C. Young, senior manager for free expression and education at PEN America and author of the… More
America’s Censored Classrooms
This year, proposed educational gag orders have increased 250 percent compared to 2021. More
Educational Gag Order Proposals Spike by 250% in 2022, PEN America Reports
“Our report documents in alarming detail the threats to how young people learn and are taught in American schools,” said Suzanne Nossel, Chief Executive Officer of PEN America. “Lawmakers… More
New Op-Ed Series Focused on the Freedom to Learn to Launch in Washington Post’s ‘Made by History’ Section
“We’re excited to partner with the Washington Post’s Made by History to support high-quality, well-researched analysis by professional historians on the unprecedented threats to our education system,” said Jeremy… More
Failed Bill Brought by Arizona Democrats Would Have Restricted What Teachers Can Teach
"Had HB 2634 become law, Arizona teachers might have been unable to assign materials that depict historical or literary instances of discrimination to educate students about why discrimination is… More
5 Myths about Educational Gag Orders
The legislators behind these gag orders are not interested in a productive back-and-forth with educators; what they want is simply to dictate the terms of teachers’ surrender. More
Fireproof Edition of Margaret Atwood’s The Handmaid’s Tale Sells for $130,000 at Auction, with Proceeds to Benefit PEN America
PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel said: “We are thrilled and grateful to Margaret for her wondrous idea to support our fight against this unprecedented and spreading censorship. This imaginative… More
Joint Statement from PEN America, AAC&U: Legislative Restrictions on Teaching and Learning Violate Academic Freedom and Threaten Higher Ed’s Autonomy
“Legislators who attack the constitutionally guaranteed freedoms of students and faculty are waging war against open inquiry itself,” said Suzanne Nossel, chief executive officer of PEN America. More
Margaret Atwood Unveils Fireproof Copy of Bestseller The Handmaid’s Tale To Be Auctioned by Sotheby’s in Support of PEN America
‘Powerful Words Can Never Be Extinguished’ (NEW YORK)--Nearly 700 supporters of PEN America's work to defend free expression reacted with cheers and applause at the organization's annual gala tonight after… More
Alert Us
Are you an artist at risk or know someone who is?
PEN America On 
In "When the Smoke Cleared: Attica Prison Poems and Journal" (@DukePress, 2022), Celes Tisdale collects poems by students in who participated in the poetry workshop he ran at Attica prison in the wake of the 1971 prison riots https://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/the-poetry-of-a-prison-uprising #BlackHistoryMonth
Are you ready to take action against book bans in your community? Join us Tuesday 1/31 at 7:30pm EST to learn what new trends and targets are emerging in books bans and what tactics to expect from right-wing extremists groups going forward. http://go.redwine.blue/yu1
Border exceptions to the 4th Amendment happen w/in 100 miles of the US border, allowing DHS/CBP to search digital devices/violate constitutional rights under protection. This is a critical bill from @RonWyden for which I’m pleased to see renewed interest:https://news.bloomberglaw.com/privacy-and-data-security/wyden-looks-to-limit-border-searches-of-americans-devices