Online Event: How to Fight Book Bans: Learn from Educators – Oct 7
Posted by PEN America on October 6, 2026
Join PEN America in conversation with the founders of the Panther Anti Racist Union (PARU) and authors of Ban This!, Patricia A. Jackson and Ben Hodge, on their journey with book bans and anti-racist advocacy.
Patricia is a 34-year veteran in education. She spent the first half of her career as an administrator and teacher in the School District of the City of York. The latter half has been teaching World Literature and Creative Writing at Central York High School. When the school board voted to ban hundreds of books based on race and sexual orientation, she joined the Panther Anti-Racist Union (PARU) as co-advisor to assist the successful fight to overturn that ruling. This led to the publication of Ban This!: How One School Fought Two Book Bans and Won (and How You Can Too), part-memoir and part-call to action to communities to stand against book bans.
Ben Hodge is an educator, author, and advocate dedicated to intellectual freedom, equity in education, and student empowerment. A high school theater teacher at Central York High School in Pennsylvania since 2002, he has spent over two decades fostering inclusive environments through performance, reflective teaching, and student-led activism.
Date and Time: Wednesday October 7, 2026, 6:00 PM
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