Writers Guild of America Statement on Salman Rushdie

NEW YORK and LOS ANGELES (August 16, 2022) – 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,

Michael Winship, WGAE President
Lisa Takeuchi Cullen, WGAE Vice President
Christopher Kyle, WGAE Secretary-Treasurer

Meredith Stiehm, WGAW President
Michele Mulroney, WGAW Vice President
Betsy Thomas, WGAW Secretary-Treasurer