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New Report: Book Bans Spike by 33% Over Last School Year

Press ReleaseSeptember 21, 2023

“The toll of the book banning movement is getting worse. More kids are losing access to books, more libraries are taking authors off the shelves, and opponents of free… More

New Laws Target LGBTQ+ Students and Put Pressure on Teachers to Monitor and Report Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in Schools

Press ReleaseAugust 24, 2023

“This is an alarming trend that threatens to turn teachers into the sexuality and gender police of public education, forcing them by law to monitor the most personal of… More

New Report: 28% Rise in School Book Bans Over First Half of 2022-23 School Year

Press ReleaseApril 20, 2023

“The heavy-handed tactics of state legislators are mandating book bans, plain and simple,” said Suzanne Nossel, Chief Executive Officer of PEN America. “Some politicians like Florida Governor Ron DeSantis… More

“Let Utah Read” Event Jan. 25 Celebrates the Freedom to Read, As it Falls Under Attack from Book Bans

Press ReleaseJanuary 23, 2023

Books are under profound attack in the United States and in Utah. Since the passage of HB 374 in 2022, book banning and book challenges have increased dramatically across… More

A Read-In to Celebrate the Freedom to Read

Wednesday, January 25, 2023 | 4:00 pm – 5:15 pm MT
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FREE SPEECH & BANNED BOOKS: A CONVERSATION WITH AZAR NAFISI in Utah

Free Speech & Banned Books: A Conversation with Azar Nafisi in Utah

Thursday, September 22, 2022 | 4:00 pm – 5:30 pm MT
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Ban on 52 Books in Largest Utah School District is a Worrisome Escalation of Censorship

Press ReleaseAugust 1, 2022

“This is a concerning escalation of the book banning we saw last school year. Elected officials and attorneys general are now easing and encouraging banning, facilitating the fulfillment of… More

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On Fifth Anniversary of Jamal Khashoggi’s Murder, PEN America Decries Continuing Lack of Justice
Osman Kavala stands in front of shelf with books and files in an office
Life Prison Sentence for Turkish Cultural Rights Activist Osman Kavala is Upheld
PEN America Speaks: How We Defended and Celebrated Free Expression The Week of September 25
books on a book shelf
PEN America Celebrates Translators for Bridging Divisions Through Words

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