Many assumed Russia's campaign of cultural erasure in Ukraine would spare Odesa because of its strong linkages to Russian language and treasures. Latest attacks showed no such mercy, with a UNESCO-recognized cathedral, a palace of scientists and other buildings destroyed 1/5 Together @PENamerica and @PenUkraine have documented how, throughout Ukraine, Russia's campaign has targeted cultural sites both willfully and indiscriminately 2/5pen.org/report/ukraini…

If book bans are a "hoax" why would librarians in Florida be creating a book sanctuary for works taken away elsewhere in the state? Thread (1/13)abcactionnews.com/news/state/flo… Some people are claiming that book banning is a hoax. They defend ideologically-driven restrictions on books in schools as long as the volumes remain available somewhere else or eventually come back on shelves.

Gov @RonDeSantisFL says book bans are a "hoax" and the only books being removed from classrooms are "pornographic and inappropriate" materials that were "snuck into" classrooms and libraries to "sexualize" students and violate education standards. 1/15 clickorlando.com/news/politics/… No one advocates porn or salacious material in the classroom. Not all books are geared to all age groups. Teachers and librarians use professional judgment to assess age appropriateness, and should listen to parents and students. That's how the system has always worked. 2/15

Last Saturday I morning I got a note from @SalmanRushdie saying "This is insane, right? @roald_dahl was a bigot and he never supported me, but really? We can’t say fat or female? . . . Can we take some sort of stand against this? Or… pointless?" 1/9 apnews.com/article/books-… My first thought, honestly, was: what a miracle that Salman is back in action, six months out from an attempted murder spurred by the ayatollah of Iran, he is as focused, determined, fierce - - and essential - - as ever. 2/9

At @PENamerica we are alarmed at news of "hundreds of changes" to venerated works by @roald_dahl in a purported effort to scrub the books of that which might offend someone. 1/13 theguardian.com/books/2023/feb… Amidst fierce battles against book bans and strictures on what can be taught and read, selective editing to make works of literature conform to particular sensibilities could represent a dangerous new weapon. 2/13