Writers Guild of America Statement on Salman Rushdie

New York and Los Angeles – The following is a statement from the Writers Guild of America, East (WGAE) and the Writers Guild of America West (WGAW) regarding Salman Rushdie:

The Writers Guild of America condemns in the strongest possible terms Friday’s horrific attack on author and fellow Writers Guild East member Salman Rushdie.

Freedom of speech is a cornerstone of democracy and one of the founding principles of our union. The right to express oneself freely and without fear of violence is unwavering and absolute. An attack on one writer is an attack on all writers.

Salman Rushdie is a leading advocate in the ongoing fight for free expression for writers and artists around the world. As he once said, “What one writer can make in the solitude of one room is something no power can easily destroy.” We applaud him for his unfailing courage through the years and in the days ahead wish him a fast and full recovery.

In solidarity,

WGAE Council

Michael Winship, President
Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, Vice President
Christopher Kyle, Secretary Treasurer
Monica Lee Bellais
Sara David
Ashley Feinberg
Kaitlin Fontana
Gina Gionfriddo
Josh Gondelman
Tian Jun Gu
A.M. Homes
Liz Hynes
Greg Iwinski
Kim Kelly
Gail Lee
Hamilton Nolan
Benjamin Rosenblum
Erica Saleh
David Simon
Sasha Stewart
Kelly Stout
Tracey Scott Wilson

WGAW Board of Directors

Meredith Stiehm, President
Michele Mulroney, Vice President
Betsy Thomas, Secretary-Treasurer
Liz Alper
Patti Carr
Robb Chavis
Adam Conover
Marjorie David
Travis Donnelly
Ashley Gable
Dante W. Harper
Eric Haywood
Deric A. Hughes
E. Nicholas Mariani
Zoe Marshall
Dailyn Rodriguez
David Slack
Patric M. Verrone
Nicole Yorkin