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Open Letter: Authors Demand Texas School District Reinstate Their Books

Open LetterApril 21, 2021

Authors join together demanding that a Texas school district reverse its decision to ban their books. More

illustration for prison book ban

As Part of National Banned Books Week, PEN America to Focus on the Right to Read in the Nation’s Prisons

Press ReleaseSeptember 12, 2019

“With all of our societal focus on how to make the criminal justice system more just and less self-defeating, vindicating the right to read in prison is an obvious… More

bookshelves

Misguided Ban on Used Books in Ohio Prisons Marks Troubling Erosion of the Right to Read

Press ReleaseMay 14, 2019

We urge Governor Mike DeWine of Ohio, Director Annette Chambers-Smith of Ohio’s Department of Rehabilitation and Correction, and other state authorities to reverse these policies, and to re-evaluate how… More

stack of books

Washington State’s Decision to Ban Book Donations to Prisons Misguided and Harmful

Press ReleaseApril 4, 2019

"Literature offers a way for people in prison to expand their minds, to retain a sense of connection to the outside community, to pass the time, and to continue… More

Stacked books

New Ukrainian Sanctions Against Russian Book Publishers and Internet Bookstores is a Brazen Attack on Intellectual Freedom

Press ReleaseMarch 27, 2019

"These new sanctions violate Ukrainians' right to intellectual freedom, and seek to sever Ukraine from the global literary and academic community." More

PEN America Files Friend of the Court Brief in Michigan Right to Literacy Case

Press ReleaseNovember 27, 2018

“The complete failure of the state of Michigan to ensure a basic standard of literacy for these students is not only an outrage, it is also unconstitutional. The freedom… More

Maryland’s New Prison Policy on Access to Literature a Step in the Wrong Direction

Press ReleaseMay 29, 2018

"As a result of this policy, thousands of people in prison now have their access to reading and educational materials primarily dictated by the offerings of just two companies.… More

Restrictive Policy in Various Federal Prisons Represents a Misguided and Destructive Disregard for the Right to Read

Press ReleaseMay 2, 2018

“Forcing incarcerated people to pay potentially exorbitant prices for books they could receive for free from friends, family, or charities, the policy makes it effectively impossible for many… More

surveillance camera surrounded by barbed wire

New York State’s Efforts to Restrict Access to Books in Prisons Shows Troubling Disregard for Right to Read

Press ReleaseJanuary 8, 2018

The State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision needs to promote policies that uphold inmates' access to information and safeguard the right to read. Directive 4911A, a ruinously over-broad… More

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  • What's New
PEN America Speaks: How We Defended and Celebrated Free Expression This Week
PEN America/PEN International: Chinese Authorities Should Immediately Release Blogger Sentenced to 7 Years in Prison
PEN America, With Other Free Speech Organizations, Sends Letter to Congress Opposing Proposed National TikTok Ban
Letter to Congress Opposing Federal Law to Impose a Ban on TikTok

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digiphile Alex Howard @digiphile ·
39m

Lewinsky is one of many public figures in the USA who will face impersonation if @Twitter goes ahead with Musk’s unwise plan to [email protected] people & organizations who don’t pay for @TwitterBlue.
(It will be worse in other nations, given
@TwitterSafety & @TwitterSupport capacity.) https://twitter.com/monicalewinsky/status/1639972616210632708

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penamerica PEN America @penamerica ·
2h

[email protected] discussed the cancellation of a class at @EasternFlorida after a student felt "discomfort" over a discussion of civil rights, highlighting the chilling effect to the Florida academic system of Ron DeSantis' yet-to-be-implemented #StopWOKEAct. https://www.msnbc.com/alex-wagner-tonight/watch/florida-student-s-discomfort-causes-cancellation-of-civil-rights-class-166822981602

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Retweet on Twitter PEN America Retweeted
okie_elliott rachel elliott 🆗🆒 @okie_elliott ·
4h

LISTEN to these middle-grade-reading heroes!

at #sokybf23 this weekend, i also listened to kids expression a mix of excitement and worry about what they can access and read... 1/2 https://twitter.com/PENamerica/status/1640039852593799170

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