« I am Charlie », still there after 5 years

On January 7, 2015, Paris was struck in the heart following the attack perpetrated by 2 terrorists on the premises of Charlie Hebdo in Paris (75011).

On January 11, a march from the Place de la République to the Nation was organized in tribute to all the victims of the attacks, bringing together 4 million people throughout France. In total, 17 people had lost their lives following the Charlie Hebdo and Montrouge attacks where a policewoman Clarissa Jean-Philippe and the HyperCasher, Porte de Vincennes, were murdered. At the headquarters of the satirical newspaper, we deplored 11 victims including the designers Cabu, Wolinski, Charb, Honoré and Tignous but also the policeman Ahmed Merabet, assassinated on boulevard Richard Lenoir (75011).

5 years ago today, Sunday January 11, 2015, 4 million people were on the streets of France to pay tribute to the 17 victims of the attacks and defend freedom of expression. On the placards where one could read « I am Charlie, cop, Jew », huge pencils and a Marianne with tears of blood … It was the biggest demonstration ever organized. The following year, January 5, 2016, President Hollande unveiled a commemorative plaque honoring the victims of the attacks on « Charlie Hebdo » and freedom of expression once again become the important value of France. The next day, the operation « Draw, Create, Freedom » was launched.

The march of January 11, 2015, known as the « Republican March », brought together 1.5 million participants in Paris, including a significant number of children, around the President of the Republic, François Hollande and the mayor of Paris, Anne Hidalgo. Organized against terrorism and to support freedom of expression after the attacks, it brought together religious leaders from different faiths, many French political leaders except FN representatives, which had sparked controversy. The families victims were at the start of the march which had been divided into 3 processions, given the large number of participants. We could also notice the presence of sixty heads of state or foreign governments including Angela Merkel (Germany), Ali Bongo (Gabon), Antonis Samaras (Greek Prime Minister), Viktor Orban (Hungarian Prime Minister), Sergei Lavrov (Russian Minister for Foreign Affairs), Ahmet Davutoğlu (Turkish Prime Minister), Ramtane Lamamra (Algerian Minister for Foreign Affairs), Sameh Choukry (Egyptian Minister for Foreign Affairs), Boni Yayi and Abdallah II (King of Jordan) but also Mahmoud Abbas (President of the Palestinian Authority), Benyamin Netanyahu (Israel), Matteo Renzi (Head of the Italian Government) or David Cameron (GB). However, the absence of an official representative from the United States was noted.

This year for the 5th anniversary of the « Republican March », many events were organized across France at the call of the « January 11 collective » with the watchword: « I am Charlie, I am the Republic « . In Paris, the rally started on Place de la République.

Previously, ceremonies of tribute to the victims were held on January 7 in the presence of Nicole Belloubet, Keeper of the Seals, Christophe Castaner, Minister of the Interior and Anne Hidalgo, Mayor of Paris.

The trial at the assizes of the 14 suspects linked to the attacks of January 7, 8 and 9, 2015 is scheduled from May 4 to July 10, 2020 at the Paris court, Porte de Clichy. The perpetrators of the attacks, the Kouachi brothers and Amedy Coulibaly are all 3 dead, shot dead by the police.

In addition, the Minister of Culture, Franck Riester announced Tuesday, January 7, during the commemoration of the attack, the creation of a « house of press cartoons and satirical cartoons » to « value them while threats hang over them in the world.  » This project will become « a meeting place allowing the creation, the promotion and the promotion of press cartoons and satirical cartoons as well as the accompaniment of its creators, » he said. The project was thought and wanted by Georges Wolinski, killed in the January 7, 2015 attack.

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VERONIQUE YANG

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