155 educational gag orders have been introduced since January 2021 -- many of them targeting Black or LGBTQ+ identities. Read our new February update and find out which bills are active: bit.ly/3H2mpFp.

pen.org

Educational Gag Orders Target Speech about LGBTQ+ Identities With New Prohibitions and Punishments

The effort to censor anti-LGBTQ identities in the classroom is expanding rapidly.

PEN America

@PENamerica

The 2022 #PENLitAwards is just around the corner! On 2/28 at

@TownHallNYC

, join us for an evening of writers celebrating writers as we'll announce winners of 11 award categories and honor career achievement award winners with host

@sethmeyers

. Tickets: bit.ly/33cSAEt.

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PEN America

@PENamerica

ICYMI: In this week's #PENTen interview, Alejandro Zambra, author of CHILEAN POET, spoke with us about his early writing, his relationship to words, and more: bit.ly/3gQrV3o.

pen.org

The PEN Ten: An Interview with Alejandro Zambra

In this PEN Ten interview, we spoke with Alejandro Zambra, author of Chilean Poet (Viking, 2022).

PEN America

@PENamerica

THE SENTENCES THAT CREATE US draws from the unique insights of over fifty justice-involved contributors and their allies to offer inspiration and resources for creating a literary life in prison. Learn more: pen.org/sentencesthatc

PEN America Retweeted

John, from the library

@johnxlibris

“Holding fast to democracy means holding fast to books, defending the judgment of teachers and librarians and vigorously upholding the rights to read and learn.” by ⁦

@SuzanneNossel

⁩

latimes.com

Op-Ed: The recent onslaught of book bans is a strategic part of wider attacks on our democracy

In many cases conservative donors, think tanks and organizers have been providing playbooks on what to get banned and how.

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PEN America

@PENamerica

Under Chinese law, Fan, a Chinese national, is not allowed to do independent reporting for international media outlets. Chinese journalists are only allowed to work as news assistants.

bloomberg.com

Bloomberg News China Staffer Haze Fan Still Detained One Year On

Haze Fan, a member of Bloomberg News’s bureau in Beijing, has been detained since late last year, with no information forthcoming on her case. Fan was last seen on Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, being...

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PEN America

@PENamerica

Bloomberg journalist Haze Fan was detained in 2021 on suspicion of “engaging in criminal activities that endanger national security.” Fan had worked for various U.S. and international media organizations before joining Bloomberg.

pen.org

Charges Against Jimmy Lai, Arrest of Haze Fan are Dual Blows Against Press Freedom

PEN America said charges lobbed against Jimmy Lai as well as a Bloomberg News reporter were direct strikes at press freedom in China and Hong Kong.

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PEN America

@PENamerica

PEN America has been highlighting detained or imprisoned writers in China every single day of the #BEIJING2022 #OlympicGames. Today is the last day of the games but we won't stop calling for their immediate release.

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PEN America

@PENamerica

Help us reach our goal! Tell social media companies to #FightOnlineAbuseNOW by signing our petition demanding these platforms take meaningful steps to shield users from hate, harassment, and threats: bit.ly/2YPEUMU.

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PEN America

@PENamerica

Even authors who have seen a surge in sales lament that it’s those who need these books the most — namely LGBTQ youth — who will lose access due to the bans.

nbcnews.com

While some banned queer books see a sales bump, others quietly disappear

Even authors who have seen a surge in sales lament that it’s those who need these books the most — namely LGBTQ youth — who will lose access due to the bans.

PEN America

@PENamerica

22h

“Read banned books!” Longtime education advocate and former host of Reading Rainbow

@LevarBurton

urged readers to seek out the books that are being challenged in schools by conservative lawmakers, school board members and parents.

washingtonpost.com

Longtime ‘Reading Rainbow’ host LeVar Burton urges kids to read banned books: ‘That’s where the...

In a segment on "The Daily Show," LeVar Burton encouraged students to "read the books they don’t want you to."

PEN America

@PENamerica

23h

Join PEN America & host

@sethmeyers

for an unforgettable evening of writers celebrating writers on 2/28 at this year's #PENLitAwards. With music, dramatic readings, award announcements & more, we hope you'll join us for this annual event at

@townhallnyc

: bit.ly/3saCTGe.

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PEN America Retweeted

Tonight

and #MiamiBookFair are gathering fellow #Sci-Fi and #Fantasy book enthusiasts for

@MarlonJames5

in conversation with

@DesireeCBailey

on Moon Witch Spider King at

@BooksandBooks

Coral Gables courtyard. FREE. ow.ly/XER150HZ00O

PEN America

@PENamerica

Feb 19

Earlier this month, PEN America &

@haymarketbooks

hosted a virtual launch of THE SENTENCES THAT CREATE US with contributor

@dwaynebetts

. Watch the full conversation at bit.ly/3LIP71z and learn more about the transformative collection here: bit.ly/3zzLhSW.

0:18

832 views

Join PEN America &

for a look at the impact of Chinese censorship on Hollywood writers & creators. With award-winning writing team Robert & Michelle King,

@rebeccaludavis

, @eirchschwartzel, moderator

@LATimeskraft

, & PEN America's

@JRTTager

pen.org

Censored by China: Defending Creative Expression in a Global Market

Join PEN America for a conversation about media censorship in China with Rebecca Davis, Erich Schwartzel and Robert and Michelle King.

PEN America

@PENamerica

Feb 19

"There is a dangerous censoriousness pulsing through American society."

@jbouie

writes about harmful educational gag orders spreading across the country in this

@nytopinion

piece with mention of PEN America's work analyzing & tracking these bills: nyti.ms/3sbgvOh.

nytimes.com

Opinion | You Just Can’t Tell the Truth About America Anymore

The teaching of history is under siege.

PEN America Retweeted

: "Several organizations and individuals are making the attempt; in particular, I recommend the work of

@PENamerica

. Their spreadsheet provides a thorough view of what’s happening with the many, many such bills."

forbes.com

Teacher Anti-CRT Bills Coast To Coast: A State By State Guide

A state by state guide to the national trend in teacher gag laws.

Curious to know what Julie Otsuka's reading habits are and which books she has on her nightstand? Check out this

@nytimes

interview with Julie before joining us for a #PENOutLoud conversation on her new book, THE SWIMMERS, on 2/22: bit.ly/3qZuHZT.

nytimes.com

A Man in a Cafe Asked Julie Otsuka What She Was Reading. They Dated for Two Years.

“An everyday pickup line, but it worked,” says the novelist, whose new book is “The Swimmers.” “I haven’t been in touch with him since, but I return to ‘The Lover’ every now and again, and never fail...

PEN America

@PENamerica

Feb 19

Check out “Love Lay Dormant,” our 2021 Prison Writing Zine for #NaNoWriMo! This collection of novel excerpts by incarcerated writers celebrates the powerful art created through the challenges of NaNoWriMo and the constraints of life in prison.

pen.org

Introducing ‘Love Lay Dormant’: A 2021 Prison Writing NaNoWriMo Zine

Our Greater Constellations zine springs from the inspired poetic work created by members of our PEN America Prison Writing community during NaPoWriMo.

PEN America

@PENamerica

Feb 19

“Amid the war of the past/Our protector exiled behind the snow-mountains/The red terror tramples upon the Tibetan people/Who can endure the present loss?”

tchrd.org

‘Tears of the Past’: Imprisoned Tibetan writer Gangkye Drupa Kyab in translation

Gangkye Drupa Kyab is a writer, poet, teacher and a father of two who was sentenced early this month to five years and six months in prison for alleged political activities. Gangkye Drupa Kyab was...

Tibetan writer and poet Gangkye Drupa Kyab was most recently arrested in March 2021. Drupa Kyab has been a vocal advocate against government crackdowns of Tibetan protests.

freetibet.org

Six Tibetans arrested ahead of CCP’s centenary celebration

Whereabouts of Tibetan writers and former political prisoners remain unknown

For every single day of the #Beijing2022 #Olympics , join PEN America in calling for the release of detained or imprisoned writers in China.

Ayyub, like every journalist, should be allowed to share her work without fear of physical or mental harm. Read

@TheCAOV

's full statement here

onlineviolenceresponsehub.org

Coalition Against Online Violence Condemns Attacks on Rana Ayyub | Coalition Against Online Violence

Ayyub has been doxxed, repeatedly threatened with rape and murder, and made to fear for her safety. These kinds of tactics are intended to intimidate and silence her.

demands that the Indian government end its instigation and amplification of attacks against Ayyub, which is putting her life at risk.

PEN America, as a member of

@TheCAOV

, condemns the targeted, coordinated harassment campaign against investigative reporter

@RanaAyyub

in India. #WeStandWithRana #FightOnlineAbuseNOW

155

452

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PEN America Retweeted

craig newmark

@craignewmark

Feb 18

Black writers are working tirelessly to unveil the truth about life & justice across the US. In this interview,

@PENAmerica

highlights the work of reporter

@krobijake

, writing for

@StLouisAmerican

via

@Report4America

: pen.org/black-reporter #ShareHerNews #BlackHistoryMonth

pen.org

Black Reporters in Conversation: Karen Jacobs

In recognition of Black History Month, PEN America interviewed Karen Jacobs, a journalist whose work centers the African-American community.

PEN America

@PENamerica

Feb 18

When writers, journalists and others are threatened and attacked on social media, many are forced to leave those platforms or stop writing altogether. Tell social media companies they need to step up to #FightOnlineAbuseNOW by signing our petition today: bit.ly/2YPEUMU.

0:21

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PEN America

@PENamerica

Feb 18

How can students mobilize and respond to book bans in their school districts? In this guide, we share tips on how students can fight back against book bans and build a stronger community of readers and advocates in the process.

pen.org

How to Fight Book Bans: A Tip Sheet for Students

This guide will help you fight back against book bans and build a stronger community of readers and advocates in the process.

What do teenagers think of the book banning that's spreading across the country? Check out the responses from students who shared their perspectives via the

@nytimes

daily Student Opinion forum: nytimes.com/2022/02/18/lea.

nytimes.com

What Students Are Saying About Banning Books From School Libraries

Teenagers share their nuanced views on the various book banning efforts spreading across the country.

We can't wait to celebrate literary excellence with host

@sethmeyers

on 2/28 for the 2022 #PENLitAwards Ceremony. Join us in-person at

@TownHallNYC

for an evening of writers celebrating writers: bit.ly/33cSAEt.

0:30

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PEN America

@PENamerica

Feb 18

“Pretence” was first published in PICKING OFF NEW SHOOTS WILL NOT STOP THE SPRING, an anthology of writing from Myanmar published by

@gaudyboySU

this February, alongside the one-year anniversary of the violent military coup in Myanmar:

singaporeunbound.org

New Shoots — Singapore Unbound

Myanmar poets, writers, and artists have used #FreeExpression to denounce the February 1, 2021 military coup, at great risk to their lives and #FreedomToWrite. Our latest report explores Myanmar’s current outpouring & long history of creative expression:

pen.org

Stolen Freedoms: Creative Expression, Historic Resistance, and the Myanmar Coup

This report explores the creative response to the February 1, 2021 coup in Myanmar and the military’s retaliatory crackdown.

Poet and writer Mae Yway wrote “Pretence” in Yangon amid the ongoing violence of the coup and tragedy of COVID-19. Read “Pretence” and listen to her bilingual reading as part of our event “Witness Writing from Myanmar” w/

@aaww

@SGUnbound1

aaww.org

Pretence: A Poem by Mae Yway

Where shall I write their name down? / Whose name will be published / on what side of my memory?

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PEN America Retweeted

Asian American Writers' Workshop

@aaww

Feb 18

"Where shall I write their name down? / Whose name will be published / on what side of my memory?" Read and watch Mae Yway's poem "Pretence" from Picking Off New Shoots Will Not Stop the Spring: Witness Poems and Essays from Burma/Myanmar 1988-2021! aaww.org/pretence-a-poe

Gaudy Boy and PEN America

PEN America Retweeted

Jonathan Friedman

@jzfriedman

Feb 18

They're going to end tenure in Texas. This is the #EdScare in a nutshell. Ask yourself when was the last time a faculty senate resolution so offended the Lt Gov that they called a press conference to end tenure and ban how faculty think and talk. #AcademicTwitter

Quote Tweet

Megan Menchaca

@meganmmenchaca

· Feb 18

Breaking: @DanPatrick says he plans to END tenure in Texas for all new hires. He says he has the support of Brandon Creighton, chair of the Senate Higher Education Committee, on this issue.

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PEN America

@PENamerica

Feb 18

In this week's #PENTen interview, Alejandro Zambra, author of CHILEAN POET, spoke with us about his early writing, his relationship to words, and more:

pen.org

The PEN Ten: An Interview with Alejandro Zambra

In this PEN Ten interview, we spoke with Alejandro Zambra, author of Chilean Poet (Viking, 2022).

PEN America

@PENamerica

Feb 18

#StudentPressFreedom Day is a national day of action when student journalists in the U.S. raise awareness about student press censorship. On 2/23 at 8:00PM ET, join PEN America &

@SPLC

for "Free Speech Live! Unmute Yourself for Student Press Freedom Day".

pen.org

Free Speech Live!: Unmute Yourself for Student Press Freedom Day with Mary Beth Tinker

Student journalists are welcome to register for PEN America's "Unmute Yourself: Student Press Freedom Day" event with guest Mary Beth Tinker.