PEN America to Honor Florida High School Activist Jack Petocz for Organizing Book Ban and 'Don't Say Gay' Protests Statewide

PEN America will honor Jack Petocz, the high school junior who fought against book bans and organized students across Florida to protest HB 1557 (the Parental Rights in Education, or “Don’t Say Gay,” bill) with the PEN/Benenson Freedom of Expression Courage Award at the 2022 PEN America Literary Gala. Devoted to exceptional acts of courage in the exercise of freedom of expression, the award this year is presented to the youth activist whose unflinching stance against censorship and silencing reflects his generation’s refusal of the regressive legislation burdening education throughout the country.

Related Keywords

Florida ,United States ,New York ,American Museum Of Natural History ,Crimea ,Krym ,Avtonomna Respublika ,Ukraine ,Flagler Palm Coast High School ,America ,Ukrainian ,Kateryna Yesypenko ,Jack Petocz ,Zadie Smith ,Asia Kate Dillon ,George Floyd ,Zion Kelly ,Suzanne Nossel ,Mimi Khin Hall ,Cameron Kasky ,Darnella Frazier ,Taylor Mason ,Michael Douglas ,Samantha Fuentes ,Ron Desantis ,Vladyslav Yesypenko ,Don Katz ,Anita Hill ,Georgem Johnson ,Free Expression Advocacy Institute ,Young ,Santa Cruz County Health ,Supreme Court ,Florida Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School ,Santa Cruz County Health Services ,Audible Literary Service Award ,Parental Rights ,Say Gay ,Benenson Freedom ,Expression Courage Award ,Sunday Morning ,Dont Tell ,Faith Salie ,Approval Junkie ,Occasionally Inappropriate ,Please Just About Everyone ,Ultimately Myself ,American Museum ,Natural History ,Ocean Life ,Kate Dillon ,Benenson Courage Award ,Literary Gala ,Russian Occupied Crimea ,Barbey Freedom ,Write Award ,Academy Award Winning ,Audible Founder ,Executive Chairman Don Katz ,Business Visionary Honoree ,All Boys Aren T ,Governor Ron Desantis ,Dont Say Gay ,Expression Advocacy Institute ,Chief Executive Officer Suzanne Nossel ,Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School ,