Famous writers will “Stand with Salman Rushdie” on the steps of the NYPL this Friday.
This Friday, writers including Paul Auster, Kiran Desai, A.M. Homes, Siri Hustvedt, Hari Kunzru, Colum McCann, Andrew Solomon, and Gay Talese will “Stand with Salman Rushdie” on the steps of the New York Public Library (along with hundreds more), and read passages from Rushdie’s 1988 novel The Satanic Verses (which, along with other Rushdie titles, is selling like hot cakes right now).
Rushdie, who lived under the shadow of a fatwa issued by Ayatollah Khomeini following the novel’s publication, survived a stabbing this past Friday and, according to his son Zafar, “his usual feisty and defiant sense of humor remains intact,” despite the severity of his injuries.
This Friday’s event—organized by PEN America, The NYPL, and Penguin Random House, and House of Speakeasy—will be a show of solidarity for both Rushdie and writers everywhere under threat of theocratic and totalitarian violence. If you can’t make the event itself you can follow along on a live-stream via PEN America, who also recommend a few ways you can support Rushdie, along with the freedom of expression everywhere, by:
· Hosting a public reading of Salman Rushdie’s work in your community.
· Posting your own home video reading a quick passage of Rushdie’s work; make sure to use #StandWithSalman and tag us @penamerica.
· Following our live coverage @PENamerica on Twitter.
