PEN America CEO Suzanne Nossel Responds to Remarks by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis that Book Bans Are a ‘Hoax’
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
These 176 Books Were Banned in Duval County, Florida
PEN America presented a joint letter with We Need Diverse Books and authors and illustrators of 176 books removed from classrooms in Duval County, Florida, in January 2022 for… More
Blanket Ban on Indoor Protest at U of Florida Amounts to “Prior Restraint on Dissent”
"Of course, we hope that protesters will not shut down, shout down, or obstruct speech, but argument and protest have their place on campuses, even when they grow heated.… More
Free Expression and LGBTQ+ Advocates Hold Media Briefing 2/14 on Florida ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Bill
On Monday, February 14 at 10:00 a.m. ET, PEN America will convene a virtual media briefing of LGBTQ+ and free speech advocates to discuss the “Don’t Say Gay” bill… More
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This from @jrezaian on why we must not fall for authoritarian smear tactics against journalists is a must read. #IStandwithEvan https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/2023/03/31/american-journalist-russia-hostage-putin/
In our recent Hate in the Headlines report, PEN America interviewed 20+ journalists with years of experience documenting domestic extremism. Their topline takeaway? Avoid long profile pieces that normalize extremists. This #60Minutes piece will almost certainly do just that.
Students at @ETSU are being asked to verify that attendees at a student-run drag show are over the age of 18, an unnecessary restriction in an effort to appease a new law banning certain drag performances – which has actually yet to take effect. https://www.wjhl.com/news/local/etsu-changes-venue-for-student-sponsored-drag-show/