2,500+ book bans across 32 states

View this email in your browser ([link removed])
[link removed]
[link removed]
Dear Friend —

More books banned. More districts. More states. More students losing access to literature.

The book ban movement is spreading like wildfire: In the 2021-22 school year alone, nearly 140 school districts in 32 states issued 2,500+ book bans—1,000 more since our original report on book bans ([link removed]) in April.

In our latest report, PEN America documents the rapid acceleration of book censorship nationwide, which now touches more than 5,000 individual schools enrolling a total of nearly 4 million students. See coverage of our report in The New York Times ([link removed]) , The Washington Post ([link removed]) , and the Los Angeles Times ([link removed]) .
READ THE REPORT ([link removed])

The rising wave of book bans undermines our freedom to read and learn, and it’s especially harmful to young people from historically marginalized backgrounds. Overwhelmingly, if unsurprisingly, books targeted for removal highlight issues of race and racism, feature LGBTQ+ characters and protagonists, or contain sexual content.

By removing these narratives from school shelves, book ban advocates are drastically limiting learning opportunities in classrooms and attacking free expression.

All throughout Banned Books Week (September 18 - 24) ([link removed]) , PEN America is holding events to raise awareness of censorship in schools. Check out these resources to learn more about how you can help us #FreeTheBooks ([link removed]) .

In solidarity,
[link removed]
Jonathan Friedman
Director, Free Expression and Education Programs
PEN America

[link removed]
Nadine Farid Johnson
Managing Director of PEN America Washington and Free Expression Programs
PEN America

============================================================
** ([link removed])
** ([link removed])
** Facebook ([link removed])
** Twitter ([link removed])
** Instagram ([link removed])
** Website ([link removed])

Get More News, Events, and Updates from ** PEN America › ([link removed])
Copyright © 2022 PEN America, All rights reserved.
You are receiving this e-mail because you opted in at PEN.org or a PEN America-sponsored event.

Our mailing address is:
PEN America
588 Broadway
Suite 303
New York, NY 10012
USA
Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can ** update your preferences ([link removed])
or ** unsubscribe from this list ([link removed])
.
Email Marketing Powered by Mailchimp
[link removed]