Dear Friend,

This week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis called a press conference to "expose the book ban hoax," claiming that only “pornographic and inappropriate” materials have been removed from Florida classrooms. Fox News heralded it with a full screen graphic declaring “vindication!”

At PEN America, we were the first to point out nothing could be further from the truth. The 565 books banned in Florida last year include picture books about Roberto Clemente and Hank Aaron, Arundhati Roy’s Booker Prize-winning novel The God of Small Things, and multiple books by Nobel Prize winner Toni Morrison.

Contrary to DeSantis’ claims, some Florida teachers were directed to cover their bookshelves and have each book reviewed before they could be returned.

And Martin County just announced it has banned 20 works by Jodi Picoult, a series from James Patterson, and dozens more related to racism or with LGBTQ content. All after they were objected to by one person.

We’re glad DeSantis doesn’t want to be seen as a book banner. But if he’s serious about that, he needs to get books back on shelves and let librarians, teachers, and principals do their jobs without fear of being punished for a kid reading a book. 

PEN America is the leading national voice protesting book bans and backing authors whose books have been ripped off shelves. We're also helping students and parents fight back. Your donation to PEN America helps us let Ron DeSantis know that the freedom to read still matters in Florida.