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PEN America Speaks: How We Defended and Celebrated Free Expression This Week

AdvocacyMarch 17, 2023

PEN America works tirelessly to defend free expression, support persecuted writers, and promote literary culture. Here are some of the latest ways PEN America is speaking out. More

Florida Book Bans Are No Hoax: Here Are The Facts

newsMarch 10, 2023

Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis set out to "expose the book ban hoax" about Florida classrooms. His claims are false.  More

Ron DeSantis speaking at a podium

PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel Responds to Remarks by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that Book Bans Are a ‘Hoax’

analysisMarch 8, 2023

If we take Gov. Ron DeSantis at his word that he is simply aiming to protect students from porn and sexualized texts, then the approaches and methods being legislated… More

PEN America Condemns Reported Dismissal of Teacher Who Blew the Whistle and Published Videos of Empty Florida Library Shelves

Press ReleaseFebruary 17, 2023

“Reports that the Governor's commentary may have led to the dismissal of a teacher are shocking,” said Kate Ruane, director of US Free Expression Programs at PEN America. “If… More

Book Lovers Stage Read-In at State Capitol for ‘Let Utah Read’

Advocacy
By: Lisa Tolin | January 26, 2023

PEN America was among the organizers of the protest against a rise in book bans in Utah. More

Brooklyn Public Library and PEN America Teaming Up to Train High School Students to Defend Against Book Bans, Promote the Freedom to Read

Press ReleaseJanuary 12, 2023

Student registrants may attend as many of the four sessions as they would like, however, full attendance and participation are required to receive a certificate of professional achievement from… More

Good News that Wentzville School District Returns 200 Temporarily Banned Books to Shelves But PEN America Raises Concern that 17 Removed Books Are Still Inaccessible

Press ReleaseDecember 22, 2022

“When legislation and threats of criminalization are enacted without guidelines, what we see are librarians and school officials operating out of fear and excess caution,” said Kasey Meehan, program… More

Letter to Duval County, FL Schools from PEN America and We Need Diverse Books— Signed by 70 Authors—Calls for Return of 176 Book Titles Pulled from Classroom Libraries

Press ReleaseDecember 6, 2022

(NEW YORK)—In a letter sent to Duval County Public Schools in Florida, PEN America and We Need Diverse Books, along with 70 authors, questioned the removal of 176 book… More

MO book ban list - book covers

PEN America Finds Missouri Schools Banned Nearly 300 Books Since August, in Response to New Law Criminalizing “Explicit Sexual Material”

Press ReleaseNovember 16, 2022

The letter reminds school district officials that, “Book bans limit opportunities for students to see themselves in literature and to build empathy for experiences different from their own. They… More

PEN America Responds to Questions Raised about Book Bans in the Central York, PA Schools

Press ReleaseSeptember 27, 2022

(NEW YORK)-- In response to questions raised about the banning of books in the Central York, PA school district, PEN America issued the following statement: In fall 2021, a list… More

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Cancellation of Drag Benefit Show on Texas Campus Goes Against Norms of Free Expression
PEN America Speaks: How We Defended and Celebrated Free Expression This Week
Unsealed: The Blood and Ink of the Prison Pen
On Bridgeworks Oregon’s “Prisons Have a Long Memory: Life Inside Oregon’s Oldest Prison”

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On March 24, listen to Jen Bowen and Zeke Caligiuri discuss building writing communities inside the walls. On @PAC_CSU 's Outside:Inside radio http://kspc.org. Sign in at 12pm!

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PEN America staff recommends books by women that had a lasting impact on their lives for #WomensHistoryMonth!

Special mentions for @caroderobertis @PamMunozRyan @OctaviaEButler #CarmenMariaMachado and #MarilynFrench

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Cancellation of Drag Benefit Show on Texas Campus Goes Against Norms of Free Expression https://pen.org/press-release/cancellation-of-drag-benefit-show-on-texas-campus-goes-against-norms-of-free-expression/

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