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September 3, 2025
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PEN America Joins Call to Condemn U.S. Human Rights Record
PEN America and PEN International jointly submitted documents ahead of the United Nations Universal Periodic Review (UPR) of the United States highlighting violations of the rights to education, free expression, and non-discrimination stemming from recent state and federal efforts to censor colleges and universities. The Trump administration withdrew from participating in the regular review of its human rights record, setting a devastating precedent for other countries to follow.
Read about the submission >> [[link removed]] On the Trump administration's withdrawal >> [[link removed]]
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Greek Statues Too Nude for Some Schools
For centuries, children have studied the art and history of the ancient world and the European Renaissance to understand Western civilization. But in a growing number of this country’s public school districts, students may be stuck believing Michelangelo, Leonardo, Donatello and Raphael are just the names of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, because some books that describe these masters – along with a host of other artists and artistic movements, including works about ancient Egypt, Greece and Rome – have been removed from library shelves.
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For this week’s Member Spotlight, we’re highlighting The Nightshade God [[link removed]] by PEN America member Hannah Whitten . In this final installment of Whitten’s New York Times bestselling fantasy series, the Nightshade Crown is in the hands of a ruthless god and Lore will stop at nothing to defeat him. PEN America board member and author Jodi Picoult calls Whitten her “favorite obsession.” [link removed] [[link removed]]
Check out The Nightshade God >> [[link removed]]
More 2025 publications by PEN America Members >> [[link removed]]
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Fri. September 19
7:30 PM – 9:00 PM ET
ONLINE
Sam Sussman joins 92NY for the launch of his highly anticipated debut novel, Boy from the North Country — an emotionally searing story about loss, memory, love, and Bob Dylan. In a conversation with Pulitzer Prize-winner and former PEN America President Ayad Akhtar , Sussman will discuss his singular debut.
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[link removed] [[link removed]] ‘I Like a Little Rebellion Now and Then’
From the Boston Tea Party in the 18th Century to the Women’s March in the 21st Century, protest has been at the heart of American history. Yet, during the last school year, more than 650 books about dissent, protest and social movements were banned. Why are students being kept in the dark about this pivotal part of America’s story?
Check it out >> [[link removed]]
Check out our reading list on activism and social movements >> [[link removed]]
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Opting for Caution Over Candor in the Classroom
The Iowa Board of Regents recently approved a new policy that mandates university faculty teach controversial subjects “in a manner that fosters critical thinking and avoids indoctrination of one perspective.” Amy Reid, Malka Margolies, and Clare Carter wrote about how seemingly fair policies like this one can actually silence open debate in the classroom. Read more >> [[link removed]]
James Patterson Wants You to Finish Your Book
In partnership with PEN America and other writers' organizations, bestselling novelist James Patterson has launched an initiative to give emerging authors up to $50,000 to help them complete their manuscript. Read more in the AP >> [[link removed]]
How Manga Gets Swept Up in Book Bans
On a panel at Anime NYC about the global censorship of manga, Daniel Shank Cruz emphasized the toll that book bans can take on authors: “Authors stop writing the content that's getting censored.” Read in the [[link removed]] Anime News Network [[link removed]] >> [[link removed]] [[link removed]]
‘An Increase in Anxiety and Concerns’ for Artists and Curators
Jonathan Friedman spoke about PEN America’s report The Censorship Horizon [[link removed]] , which surveyed museum directors nationwide about the censorship they are facing under the Trump administration. Read more in [[link removed]] the Star Telegram >> [[link removed]] [[link removed]]
The Crackdown on DEI is a ‘Sleight of Hand’
Amy Reid spoke about how DEI-related bans are affecting classroom teaching: “We risk inappropriately limiting our students’ ability to access the education that they need and deserve free of censorship” Read more in [[link removed]] Masslive >> [[link removed]] [[link removed]]
Recommended Reading
To round off Women in Translation Month, PEN America spoke to writer and translator Deepa Bhasthi , who translated Heart Lamp by Banu Mushtaq (the 2025 International Booker Prize winner!) from Kannada to English, about what translation means in a multilingual society like India. Read the interview >> [[link removed]]
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"As students, what we can do is make sure we use our pen as our power."
— Amen Dilawar, student at CUNY Lehman College
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