Just in time for Banned Books Week, a band of beloved bestselling authors have joined forces with PEN America to fight censorship with game-changing donations of more than $3.5 million for our advocacy in Florida and across the country. Authors including Michael Connelly, James Patterson, and Judy Blume are leading the way to "Stand With the Banned" against censorship.
We're in this fight until the end – and we want you to join us. Read on for six ways to get involved, whether you want to write to your representatives, speak out on social media, or attend an event.
And then there's shopping. We commissioned exclusive T-shirts to support the cause designed by banned illustrators Art Spiegelman, Mike Curato, and Todd Parr.
1. Stand With the Banned
Our unprecedented mobilization to accelerate PEN America’s on-the-ground campaign in Florida includes authors Laurie Halse Anderson, David Baldacci, Brit Bennett, Richard Blanco, Judy Blume, Ruby Bridges, Lee Child, Suzanne Collins, Michael Connelly, Gillian Flynn, Amanda Gorman, Nikki Grimes, Daniel Handler, Khaled Hosseini, Casey McQuiston, David Levithan, Brad Meltzer, Todd Parr, James Patterson, Jodi Picoult, Kathy Reichs, Nora Roberts, Reshma Saujani and Mo Willems. We’d love for you to be a part of this fight.
We believe in the freedom to read, that all students should feel valued in the classroom, and that teachers and librarians deserve respect. PEN America and We Believe gathered a consortium of the nation’s leading publishers, teacher and librarian groups, and nonprofit organizations to sign a joint open letter and launch a public letter-writing campaign opposing book bans.
We teamed up with the Writers Guild Initiative and Unite Against Book Bans in a social media campaign to share the banned books that changed our lives. Edie Falco, Neil Gaiman, Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody, John Doman and Wendy Malick have already shared their favorites – with stars like Kevin Bacon and Gwyneth Paltrow set to follow for the Banned Books Week Day of Action this Saturday, Oct. 7.
Show your opposition to book bans with original swag designed by banned authors and illustrators Art Spiegelman (Maus), Mike Curato (Flamer), and Todd Parr (The Family Book). Take 10% off with the code
With events taking place online and across the country, you can show your opposition to book bans in your community, or hop on the Banned Wagon Tour of multiple cities, an initiative by Penguin Random House with PEN America, the Freedom to Read Foundation, and Little Free Library.
This week’s Member Spotlight features Ali Velshi, who we interviewed about his new podcast, Velshi Banned Book Club. Described as an "act of resistance against the epidemic of book banning,” in each episode of the podcast, Ali is joined by a prominent author of banned literature to talk about both the author's experience of being banned and the podcast's running theme of why literature is, in itself, an act of resistance.
PEN America’s groundbreaking research on book bans was cited in dozens of articles during Banned Books week. (The Washington Post)
Our Stand With the Banned initiative in Florida was another highlight of coverage during Banned Books Week (AP)
Kristen Shahverdian spoke to the AP about the state of free speech on college campuses. (AP)
PEN America was quoted in articles about the five year anniversary of Jamal Khashoggi’s murder, a case that “has cast a shadow over writers who speak out against injustice worldwide.” (NPR)
Henry Hicks IV wrote that the murder of O’Shae Sibley is an attack on free expression. (The Washington Blade)
PEN/Jean Stein Book Award winner Nana Kwame Adjei-Brenyah and former Emerging Voices mentor Justin Torres were shortlisted for National Book Awards. (New York Times)
WHAT WE'RE READING
In case you missed our event with Zadie Smith, hear what she has to say about her new book The Fraud and the complicated environment for writers with book bans across the country. (Talk Easy Podcast)
Malinda Lo wrote a powerful blog post about what it’s like to have her book banned. (Malinda Lo)
Young people, librarians and authors talk about how they are fighting back against book bans in this podcast. (NPR)
Ashley Hope Perez spoke with NPR about how banning “sexual” content is used to target books addressing race, gender, and other identity-based topics. (NPR)
The moment Jamal Khashoggi’s editor Karen Attiah knew the world would move on from his murder. (The Washington Post)
"We have been astonished to see books ripped off the shelves and students forced into the middle of a fight they didn’t ask for or deserve."
- Michael Connelly
TRENDING @ PENAMERICA
Gearing Up for the Banned Books Week Day of Action
This adorable video with Mandy Patinkin and Kathryn Grody is one of our most viewed ever. Join our video roll call for Banned Books Week on Instagram by making your own or sharing videos with your friends.
PEN America- New York:
588 Broadway, New York, NY 10012 PEN America- Washington, DC:
1100 13th Street, NW, Washington, DC xxxxxx PEN America- Los Angeles:
1370 N. Saint Andrews Place, Los Angeles, CA 90028
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