Yesterday was a very sad and dark day here, with tragic news about a deadly attack at the headquarters of the weekly Charlie Hebdo newspaper killing at least 12 people, seriously injuring another 11. It happened at about 11:30AM in the 11th arr., not far from where I live, as three armed gunmen walked into the offices of Charlie Hebdo and opened fire, murdering 10 journalists and two police officers. Among the dead were some of the most prominent satirical cartoonists in France and the magazine’s director Stéphane Charbonnier.
First, I want to thank everyone who sent messages of concern and asked if I was okay. It comforted me.
Having experienced 9/11 when living in New York in 2001, many of the same feelings came up for me yesterday-sadness and being afraid, scared, and vulnerable. Also thinking about how our basic democratic rights are being attacked. Freedom of speech has always been an important issue in France, much the same as the U.S. and now it is under fire in a tense and scary way.
Charlie Hebdo is a long time satirical publication. It’s not the first time the news paper has come under fire, the newspaper’s office were firebombed in 2010 after the it published a spoof issue that “invited” the prophet to be its guest editor and put a caricature of Islam’s holiest figure on its cover. Minutes before the attack yesterday the newspaper tweeted “Still No Attacks in France”, a caricature of an Islamist fighter saying, “Just wait – we have until the end of January to present our New Year's wishes.”
Support and tributes came from across the globe from world leaders such as Barack Obama, Britain’s David Cameron and Vladimir Putin.
The country is in a state of shock and today is a national day of mourning.
