Irish novelist Colum McCann, British writer Hari Kunzru and others read passages from Mr. Rushdie’s works from the top of the flagship library branch’s steps off Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue. Below, at a distance enforced by organizers, a crowd of about 400 people gathered to listen, breaking out into a chant of “Stand with Salman” when the event concluded.
There were no bag checks or metal detectors to screen for weapons ahead of the appearance by Mr. Rushdie, who had been living under a death sentence for 33 years.“I hope this is a wake-up call that people like Salman, who are fearless, who write things as they see them, who are not afraid to speak the truth as they view it, really are in danger,” said PEN America Chief Executive Suzanne Nossel. The nonprofit free-expression and human rights group helped organize the event.“We’re all in danger.
Every threat she received mentioned that she is Muslim and warned her to go back to where she came from, Ms. Jarrar said. She moved, and hired a company to scrub her private data from the internet.