Millions of People; World Leaders gather for Unity March in Paris
After three days of terror, Paris on Saturday witnessed a huge historic gathering of citizens, joined by top world leaders at a unity march. Sorrowful, yet strong citizens united for a peaceful “Unity March” at Place de la Republica to honour the 17 victims, who lost their lives in the terror attacks that rocked Paris for 3 consecutive days.
The rally, which was scheduled for 3pm (Paris time) saw people swarming in; slowly and steadily over a million of people had gathered displaying the unity among the people of France.
Even as the nation remained on a high alert, people came out on streets in heavy numbers to take part in the rally. Security was tightened, certain locations were shut temporarily, and officials had been deployed to prevent any sorts of complications from occurring.
France’s satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo had come under terrorists target and its offices were attacked in a deadly shooting that killed 12, including a policeman. Later, as the search for the attackers widened, a policewoman was shot dead in another attack, which was followed by a hostage situation inside a supermarket killing four.
On Sunday, as the nation was coming back to terms, millions gathered on the streets – some had banners of Je Suis Charlie (I am with Charlie) while some brandished pens to signify freedom of speech and expression.
Among the present world leaders were Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Foreign Minister Avigdor Lieberman, British Prime Minister David Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Markel and other top European leaders. Leaders from the Middle East and African nations also attended this rally. US attorney General Eric Holder represented US President Barack Obama.
AFP quoted French Prime Minister Manuel Valls while he told a poignant rally on Saturday, “I have no doubt that millions of citizens will come to express their love of liberty, their love of fraternity.”
BBC’s Patrick Jackson, who was at the scene reported that everywhere the slogan was Je Suis Charlie on the homemade placards, on armbands, on T-shirts, and that there were flags too: full-sized French tricolours carried by demonstrators, the colours of the Republic on the square of the Republic.
Tags: Charlie Hebdo Paris Paris shootout
