How Book Bans and Campus Censorship are Jeopardizing Free Speech and Democracy

PEN America has counted approximately 16,000 book bans across the country since 2021. These bans have been accompanied by state legislators working to pass laws to tighten control over—or outright censor—public education in schools, colleges, and universities. In 2025, the federal government has now joined these attacks as well. This talk will summarize the current state of play concerning the twin menaces of book bans and broader educational censorship, why they must be confronted, and how the higher education community has a unique role to play in communicating this anti-democratic threat to the public. Although the situation seems dire, there is reason for hope.

Jonathan Friedman, Ph.D., is the Sy Syms managing director of U.S. Free Expression Programs at PEN America, where he oversees advocacy to safeguard the unhampered transmission of literature, education, and information. PEN America’s U.S. programs aim to counter government censorship; foster a robust culture for free expression in society writ large; build capacity among professionals and institutions that underpin inclusive democracy; and support and defend individual writers, artists, scholars, and journalists. An interdisciplinary scholar by training, Friedman has served as lead author on numerous PEN America reports. He frequently provides commentary to national media, publishes op-eds, and leads workshops on free expression for educational professionals.