Despite frigid temperatures, hundreds of people gathered in Union Square on Wednesday night to stand in solidarity with French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo. The demonstration, just one of many that took place in major cities across the world, began at 7 PM.
Twelve died in the Paris attack, perpetrated by three gunmen thought to be Islamic radicals. The paper has a history of running controversial images critical of Islamic extremism, and in 2011, its offices were firebombed after it ran an unflattering cartoon of the Prophet Muhammad. Wednesday’s attack was seen as a literal attack on free speech.
MSNBC estimates between 200 to 400 people stood in the square holding signs that read “Je Suis Charlie” (“I am Charlie”), chanted “We are not afraid!” and “We are free and proud of it!” They even sang the French national anthem. Throughout the night, MSNBC notes, “police presence was minimal.”
Union Square NYC last night #CharlieHebdo #JeSuisCharlie @NBCNewYork @NBCNews @NBCNewsWorld @NBCNewsPictures pic.twitter.com/4Bz4uF36nB
— andrew dallos (@adallos) January 8, 2015
New York, Union Square. #jesuischarlie #charliehebdo pic.twitter.com/wzILIV9al2
— Géraldine Woessner (@GeWoessner) January 7, 2015
Crowd gathered at Union Square in NYC right now to memorialize those killed in #CharlieHedbo attack. #JeSuisCharlie pic.twitter.com/SusW1OnvlT
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) January 8, 2015
Crowd gathered at Union Square in NYC right now to memorialize those killed in #CharlieHedbo attack. #JeSuisCharlie pic.twitter.com/SusW1OnvlT
— Christopher Miller (@ChristopherJM) January 8, 2015
It's 17° w/biting wind chill in NYC right now & Union Square is overflowing w/the #JeSuisCharlie solidarity demo. pic.twitter.com/GYRvnoc0H6
— Keegan Stephan (@KeeganNYC) January 8, 2015
(Photo: adallos)
