April 29, 2026 at 7:02 am NEW YORK (AP) — A coalition of Tennessee activists who have become known nationwide for fighting book bans will be honored by PEN America next month at its annual gala. The literary and free expression organization announced Wednesday that the Rutherford County Library Alliance, based in Murfreesboro, will be presented the PEN/Benenson Courage Awards on May 14. The alliance was formed in response to a local “decency ordinance” passed in 2023 that sought to maintain “family-friendly environments in public places” and protect “against harm to minors.” The ordinance was pulled after the city settled a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and others over the alleged suppression of free speech. But censorship efforts have continued.…