Dear Friend, 

The strongest defense against authoritarianism is an educated public, one that studies and learns from history instead of repeating its darkest chapters. Alarmingly, that safeguard is being systematically weakened. There has been an unprecedented rise in educational gag orders and political censorship on college campuses.

More than half of U.S. college students now study in states with at least one law or policy restricting what can be taught or how campuses operate. 

According to PEN America’s newest report, America’s Censored Campuses: Expanding the Web of Control, 2025 marked a grim record: 93 bills censoring higher education were introduced in 32 states, with 21 enacted into law. On the federal level, the administration is using every lever of power possible to curtail what can be taught, researched, and debated on college campuses, imposing ideological limitations on intellectual freedom.

At PEN America, we have always advocated for more speech rather than less because we believe that the proliferation of ideas—no matter the ideology—produces a stronger, more diverse, more democratic society. Free speech needs defenders. Make a gift today.

PEN America
120 Broadway
New York, NY 10271
United States 
PEN America- Washington, DC:
1100 13th Street, NW, Washington, DC xxxxxx
PEN America- Los Angeles:
1370 N. Saint Andrews Place, Los Angeles, CA 90028

PEN America- Florida:

929 Alton Road, Suite 500, Miami Beach, FL 33139 

Edit your email preferences or unsubscribe