Teachers, Authors and Activists Gather for Summit July 12-13 in Orlando to Defend Against Educational Censorship in Florida
Bestselling author Jodi Picoult will give the keynote address at 10:30 a.m. Saturday, followed by a panel discussion at 11:10 a.m. on “The State of Censorship, How Did We… More
South Carolina Lawmakers to Reject New Restrictions to Evaluate Books in Public Schools
We are writing to urge South Carolina’s legislative body to halt Regulations 43-170 which are slated to go into effect on June 25th unless the General Assembly amends the… More
New Report Finds Unprecedented Surge in School Books Bans
“Students are at the epicenter of the book banning movement, and they’re fearlessly spearheading the fight against this insidious encroachment into what they can read and learn across the… More
PEN America Calls on S.C. Library to Reverse Restriction on Books about Transgender Subjects
Kasey Meehan, Freedom to Read program director at PEN America, said the board should reverse its decision, which she said was based on “viewpoint discrimination” and noted that book… More
Prohibition of LGBTQ+ Books by Alabama Library Makes a “Mockery” of Free Expression
“The Autauga-Prattville Public Library’s newly appointed board is making a mockery of freedom of expression,” said Kasey Meehan, Freedom to Read program director at PEN America. “We are alarmed… More
Data from Two School Years of Book Banning Show Spread of Copycat Bans and a “Scarlet Letter” Effect for Authors
“Book banners have effectively marked a group of authors with a ‘scarlet letter,” which has intensified the pace and scope of book banning in schools,” said Kasey Meehan, Freedom… More
New Reports: California and Florida Push the Nation in Opposing Directions on Free Expression
Katie Blankenship, a former ACLU of Florida litigator who this month became PEN America’s inaugural director in the state, said: “Gov. DeSantis and the legislature have launched a legislative… More