Millions participated in an anti-terrorism march through Paris and other parts of France Sunday (Jan. 10). Over 40 world leaders joined in a show of support after terrorist attacks killed 17 in the City of Lights, last week.
U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry defended the Obama Administration against criticism over the President’s absence from the demonstrations.
The global participation was a message of solidarity, and a push for the “We Are All Muslim” movement, which came about as a show of support in separating the faith, despite the terrorist acts of Islamic extremists.
Reports CNN:
World leaders joined French President Francois Hollande, including British Prime Minister David Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy. The day also brought together an unlikely duo at the rally: Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
The rally began with a march through Paris streets at 3 p.m., but a massive group of people stayed into the night. Among them was Dalil Boubakeur, the rector of the Great Mosque of Paris and president of the French Council of the Muslim Faith.
One man in the crowd said the French people must not “give in to fear.” Terrorists, he said, “will not win.”
Others carried signs that echoed the now-famous phrase that honored slain journalists at the magazine Charlie Hebdo, “Je suis Charlie.”
The march in France is the largest in the country’s history.
See images from march below.
