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Chautauqua President Speaks At Vigil

People gather at an evening vigil for author Salman Rushdie after was attacked, Friday Aug. 12, 2022, in Chautauqua, N.Y. Rushdie, whose novel “The Satanic Verses” drew death threats from Iran in the 1980s, was stabbed as he was about to give a lecture in western New York earlier today. AP photo

CHAUTAUQUA — Chautauqua Institution President Michael E. Hill spoke Friday evening at a vigil in the Hall of Philosophy.

His comments were heard after the tragic Friday afternoon event where author Salman Rushdie was stabbed on the Amphitheater stage prior to his lecture, and where several people rushed to the author’s aid while his alleged attacker was arrested by a New York State Trooper.

“What we experienced at Chautauqua today is unlike anything and our 150 year history was an act of violence, an act of hatred and a violation of the one thing that we have always cherished most, the safety and the tranquility of our grounds and our ability to convene any conversation, even if it’s difficult. Today was also an attack on an ideal we cherish at Chautauqua that freedom of speech and freedom of expression are hallmarks to our society and to our democracy. They have a very underpinnings of who we are and what we believe what we cherish the most, Hill said.

On Friday, Chautauqua Institution canceled all its programming for the remainder of the day. That included the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra’s performance scheduled that night at the Reg Lenna in Jamestown, according to post-journal.com.

Hill said what many saw Friday at the Amphitheater was a violent expression of hate that shook onlookers to their core of their beliefs. Also, Hill noted, that many Chautauquans ran toward danger.

“We saw it with our own eyes, and we saw it with our own faces. We also saw something else today that I hope we never forget. We saw some of the best of humanity in response to the numbers of people who ran toward danger. I watched members of our staff hurl themselves at the attacker. I saw Chautauquans rush to the stage to help secure the perpetrator, making it possible for the police to remove him. I saw Chautauquans who are doctors and nurses rush to provide selfless care, literally holding Salman Rushdie together until the ambulance arrived,” he said.

Hill said there will be time in the days and weeks of to reflect on what had happened earlier Friday, but the vigil was a time for people to simply be with one another. Hill also noted that Chautauqua plan on returning to regular programming.

“When hatred shows its ugliness in our home and on our stages in our gathering places, we know the response has to be love, but it also has to be action. We will return to our podiums in our pulpits. We will continue to convene those conversations that were tried to be stopped today so that we can build greater empathy and it’s more important now than ever,” he said.

The president said people are called to stand witness that Chautauqua only has one choice — to ensure that voices that have the power to change the world continue to have a home in which to be heard.

“That’s what’s ours to do,” he said.

Hill said people can come together even more strongly as a community who takes what happened Friday and commits to not allowing that hatred to have any room in their hearts.

“I know this community. I saw it run toward danger. I saw it make a choice for hope. I know that’s what we’ll do tonight, and starting tomorrow,” he said.

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