President Michael E. Hill on Sir Salman Rushdie’s release of “Knife”
On behalf of Chautauqua Institution and our community members, I offer congratulations to Sir Salman Rushdie on the release of his memoir, “Knife.” His story of incredible courage and resolve demonstrates the power of his craft — the written word — in healing and combating hate in all its forms. He has inspired us with, as he wrote, his “second chance at life,” as he concentrates on love and work.
Sir Salman’s dedication of the book to “…the men and women who saved my life” resonates deeply with us. We join him in profound gratitude for the swift and heroic response of patrons who rushed the stage and the amazing team at Hamot Medical Center. We expand that circle of gratitude to include the Chautauqua staff member who tackled the assailant, and to the Chautauqua Institution Safety and Security team, the New York State Police, Chautauqua County Sheriffs, and the Chautauqua Fire Department who collaborated on the plan for security and emergency medical care, who were present that day, and who were also critical components of the life-saving response.
Since August 2022, we’ve been on a journey with Sir Salman, including his emotional return to the Chautauqua Amphitheater with his wife, Eliza, on Sept. 18, 2023, which he poignantly recounts in the book. Chautauqua and Sir Salman will forever be linked because of this tragedy and because we stand as symbols of the importance of freedom of expression to our democratic way of life. We will continue to support them on this journey.