Solidarity in grief: thousands attend rallies in wake of Charlie Hebdo killings | World news | The GuardianSolidarity in grief: thousands attend rallies in wake of Charlie Hebdo killings | World news | The Guardian










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Charlie Hebdo attack



Solidarity in grief: thousands attend rallies in wake of Charlie Hebdo killings









Candles, front pages and pens held in powerful gestures of support for journalists gunned down in Paris attackCharlie Hebdo attack: follow the latest developments
Vigils held across Europe for victims of Paris attack - video 














Thousands gather for a candle light vigil on Place de la République in central Paris, hours after the attack. Photograph: Ian Langsdon/EPA




Kim Willsher in Paris, and 
Ben Quinn


Wednesday 7 January 2015 15.42 EST







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As night fell, Parisians gathered under the imposing statue of Marianne, her extended right arm holding an olive branch, the symbol of peace.
They gathered in shock to show their anger, grief and solidarity. It was bitterly cold – as it had been all day – but still they came, thousands and thousands of them.
Some lit candles that were arranged to spell out the words Je Suis Charlie, the new slogan of support and condolence for those who died at the offices of Charlie Hebdo.



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People light candles during a gathering to show solidarity for the victims of the attack on the offices of the satirical weekly, Charlie Hebdo.
Photograph: Eric Feferberg/AFP/Getty Images


Others held up hastily made banners or copies of the magazine’s front pages past and current, including one of a Muslim kissing Charb, the cartoonist and editor, under the headline: “Love is stronger than hate”.
Some held up pens; a simple but powerful gesture of support for the journalists gunned down just hours before.
“We need to show the terrorists that they cannot win,” said Jules, a student.
“Everyone is shocked: the cartoonists Charb, Cabu, Wolinski, Tikgnous … we grew up with them. Half of France grew up with them,” said one man, who did not want to be named, who was, like many in the crowd, close to tears. “My god, how could this happen?”



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People gather at France’s embassy in Buenos Aires to pay tribute to the victims of the shooting.
Photograph: Marcos Brindicci/Reuters


The Syndicat national des journalistes called for a moment of silence. When it finished, dozens of youngsters clambered onto the Marianne pedestal to lead chants of “Charlie, Charlie”
It is custom in France in the month of January, to precede any conversation – even with strangers – with “Meilleurs Voeux” (best wishes), an almost obligatory politesse that is more formal than Happy New Year. At Place de la République on Wednesday evening – seven days into 2015 – the custom had been abandoned as inappropriate.
Friends greeted each other with hugs. Strangers with a grim nod of the head and a frown. There was a sense of collective comfort even for those who came alone.



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Thousands of people gather in Lyon for a moment of silence to pay their respects to the victims.
Photograph: Laurent Cipriani/AP


Raphael Chenuil-Hazam, 37, who works with an anti-death penalty group, echoed the views of many who felt they could not just go home on such a tragic day.
“I came here tonight not just to support freedom of speech but freedom from violence. Charlie Hebdo was with me during my teenage years, in fact all my life. It was always there, fun, funny, sometimes upsetting, but always there to remind me the meaning of the word ‘freedom’,” he told the Guardian.
“These crazy people want to kill freedom and I am here to say they will never hill freedom of speech, the freedom to criticise even religion and to make fun of whoever they wish.”



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Demonstrators also gathered at the Dam square in Amsterdam.
Photograph: Evert Elzinga /EPA


Julie, 35, employed in human resources, said she felt the need to be with other people on “this horrible, horrible day”.
“Sometimes we hear of journalists who investigate things like the mafia being killed in places like Russia … but these were cartoonists for goodness sake. They criticised all parts of society, not just religions.”
Her friend Sarah added: “It’s like we are waking up. We know these terrorists are out there and they don’t like France, but now we see they are attacking our institutions of freedom. Charlie Hebdo was a symbol.”



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Londoners hold a vigil for the dead of the Paris terror attack at Trafalgar Square in London.
Photograph: Andy Rain/EPA


Camille 26, an environmentalist, said: “I’m here to show my support for Charlie Hebdo and to denounce violence that only breeds further violence. Today is a tragic day. Those killed at Charlie Hebdo were part of our collective history, our heritage. Charlie Hebdo symbolised freedom of expression.
Her colleague Claire, 29, added: “I’m happy to see the place is full of people and we can say we will not give in to fear.”
In the largest vigil outside of France so far, more than a thousand French citizens and others gathered in Trafalgar Square in London – sometimes dubbed Frances’s “sixth largest city” on account of the number of expats living there.



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A person holds a pen up at a rally in Madrid showing support for the victims of the attack at French magazine Charlie Hebdo.
Photograph: Pablo Blazquez Dominguez/Getty Images


In silence, they shed tears, joined in a chorus of La Marseillaise and held previous covers of Charlie Hedbo. Some just held up pens and pencils, which were eventually left in the middle of the gathering, which had been quickly organised earlier in the day on Facebook without any apparent leadership.
“We’re here because of freedom of the press and freedom of expression generally, but we’re also here because we’re sad,” said Arnaud Vervoitte, a Frenchman who has lived in the UK for 21 years and works with a youth organisation in London.
In common with others, he also cited fears of far right-led backlash in his homeland.



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Some of the many thousands of people who gathered at Place de la République in Paris to pay respects to those killed.
Photograph: Michael Bunel/Corbis


“If the reports are accurate then I am scared that it is going to feed into more far right politics which have been a massive issue in France and we have already seen the Front National using the issue without evening knowing the details.”
Another French expat, Marie Proffit, added: “We are shocked. We know that there should be a place for satirical press in Europe.
“We’re also sure though that this was not about Muslim people – it was about some really really extreme people.”
“I am very worried about what might happen next – that the Front National will try to use this to their advantage. It doesn’t represent France at all.”
Charlie Hebdo attack: follow the latest developments



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Charlie Hebdo: a letter to my British friends

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Published: 13 Jan 2015




Charlie Hebdo: a letter to my British friends
















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