Thread by @PENamerica

🧵How did PEN America defend and celebrate #FreeExpression this week?

On Wednesday, we urged school officials in Nixa, #Missouri, to retain Art Spiegelman’s graphic novel Maus and two other books that were flagged by as "sexually explicit." pen.org/press-release/…

We also sat down with Art Spiegelman, who reflected on the history of fascism and the idea that #Maus was being attacked for sexual content: "I was offended just like they were, but I was offended by describing a naked corpse as a nude woman." pen.org/art-spiegelman… (2/x)

Ahead of a June 20 school board meeting in Nixa, Missouri, we encouraged everyone who opposes censorship to tell school officials that Maus belongs in schools.

Use this form to send your own letter: pen.org/fight-back-aga… (3/x) #BannedBooks #FreeTheBooks

We spoke out against "outrageous government censorship" after Ta-Nehisi Coates’ acclaimed memoir Between the World and Me was removed from an AP course because several students complained about videos that made them feel "ashamed to be Caucasian." pen.org/press-release/… (4/x)

In a @USATODAY op-ed, PEN America’s @jonfreadom explained why the book-banning activists and politicians currently attempting to redefine the word "ban" are using "semantic gymnastics" in "an effort to deny and distract" from what's really going on. (5/x)

https://twitter.com/PENamerica/status/1668236358811369474

As @jonfreadom noted: "Writing about book banning for The First Amendment Encyclopedia in 2009, Susan Webb explained, 'Opponents of publications sometimes use the tactic of restricting access rather than calling for the physical removal of books.'" mtsu.edu/first-amendmen… (6/x)

This week, we also announced the expansion of our Literary Awards Grants & Fellowships with the PEN/@barelifereview Grant which aims to recognize the undeniable importance of migrant narratives in supporting works from immigrant and refugee authors. pen.org/press-release/… (7/x)