Place de la Nation about 7pm tonight. Right after I took this, I looked around and realized I had lost my friend. People were streaming into Nation from Voltaire and Charonne and it was getting denser and denser. To one side of me were the TV cameras with their bright lights, the other side were the Solidarité signs, and I was in the middle of streams of people traffic going in opposing directions. I imagined watching us from above, these teeny grains of sand trying to move around and get somewhere, chanting and photographing and holding up signs. Photo by Danielle Voirin.
Bvd Voltaire, on my way out of Nation at 8pm. The rivers of people were endless. I believe these glasses are supposed to be those of Charb. Photo by Danielle Voirin.
On the way to Place de la Nation, an apartment building on blvd Charonne. Photo by Danielle Voirin.
Place de la Nation, looking towards the Porte de Vincennes, where the Hyper Cacher market is. Photo by Danielle Voirin.
Photo by Danielle Voirin.
Photo by Danielle Voirin.
Photo by Danielle Voirin.
Photo by Danielle Voirin.
Photo by Danielle Voirin.
Bookstore on rue Oberkampf displaying a series of Charlie Hebdo covers on its façade. Photo by Danielle Voirin.
People on rue Oberkampf waiting for the march to start. Photo by Danielle Voirin.
Selfie at the protest. Photo by Danielle Voirin.
Outside metro Parmentier. Signs read “I am Hyper Cacher, I’m a police officer, I’m Charlie, I am Jewish.” Photo by Danielle Voirin.
Outside metro Parmentier. Many of the advertising signs and newspaper kiosks have Je suis Charlie in the place of ads. Photo by Danielle Voirin.
The next generation of Charlies, innocently asleep. Photo by Danielle Voirin.
The next generation of Charlies being dragged along. Photo by Danielle Voirin.
The intersection of rue Oberkampf, Avenue de la Republique and Avenue Parmentier, looking in the direction of Place de la Republique. Photo by Danielle Voirin.
The intersection of rue Oberkampf, Avenue de la Republique and Avenue Parmentier, looking in the direction of Place de la Republique. Photo by Danielle Voirin.
The intersection of rue Oberkampf, Avenue de la Republique and Avenue Parmentier, looking in the direction of Place de la Republique. Photo by Danielle Voirin.
These are really amazing
What of a police presence, Dani? Is that even a part of this encouraging explosion of humanity?
Well, re: police presence, it seemed much lighter than at the average protest, but that could also be in relation to the amount of people in the street. The police that I saw were only acting as barriers to keep people from spreading out into every street in the 11th district, to keep some streets calm. They were friendly and without the usual aggressive stance that makes you feel they’re prepared for violence at any moment. I saw signs that said “je suis policier” in addition to being Charlies. It was possibly the most cooperative crowd I’ve ever been in, aside from when I photograph the Ganesh Festial, where everyone is so warmly invited.
In France there’s a certain distrust of police (they don’t have the tradition of the friendly neighborhood police officer like I had growing up – but my dad’s also a retired cop), but on Sunday that seemed to disappear. Their presence was welcomed and even applauded.
http://www.theguardian.com/media/2015/jan/13/charlie-hebdo-cover-magazine-prophet-muhammad
google mahomet en larmes charlie hebdo if you want to see the cover
I lived in Paris when I was a student, many years ago, and I remember the French distrust of the police you talk of, Danielle, and I myself found them unpleasant and aggressive, So it must have been very touching to see them in such a different light. It mut be a terrible time for them – seeing their colleagues gunned down like that. Thank you so much for the gift of your wonderful photos, Danielle (and thanks for asking the question, Jude)!
Lizzy and Danielle perhaps you will correct me – what I have understood is that theFrench Revolution was rooted in the people against the nobility and the clergy when the Estates General (nobility clergy people) couldn’t agree on taxation (of the rich – vetoed by nobles and clergy) and the people broke away. This is the basis of the republic a
(sorry it jumped!) and the legistation of 1905 which banned religion in social situations, which leads to banning the burqa, which is ‘normal’ to the french (nobility clergy against them) and ‘incomprehensible’ to the muslim mind.
is this right if simplified?
Also there are different definitions of freedom – if you look at that line up of politicians in the march – bet their ideas of freedom and their reasons for supporting ‘freedom’ were all different?!
Hi Pam, I’m afraid I’m not well-informed about this matter! However – there’s a strong shadow side to France’s enlightenment à la Voltaire and liberté, etc. Am thinking of their colonialist and collaborationist past (no offence to French readers, us Brits have a lot to answer for too)!
The nobles and clergy didn’t pay taxes and didn’t want to.
ie religion generates strong reactions in France too. Albeit differently!
http://www.historytoday.com/gemma-betros/french-revolution-and-catholic-church
Libération (newspaper) yesterday talked about the people in the march – some who were friends and relatives of the Charlie Hebdo Journalists, some who loved Cabu from his cartooning on children’s shows – he used to draw and the camera followed in such a way you could put an A4 sheet over your TV screen and draw the cartoon too. Others had come to political awareness through Charlie Hebdo.
A friend said yesterday (talking about kids and schooling/education) that freedom is how many people you can say merde to ie you don’t actually have to take their views into account – I’d say it the other way – freedom from other people forcing you badly to be how you are not, yet you want contact too and there is bound to be some friction from time to time even in your own understanding of who you are or are not and what is helpful or not.
I’m going to stop now – far too loquacious this week.
ps if I put Luke 12:25 it was 10:25 sorry!
At least one issue might be how to build a practical multi dimensional awareness for understanding the world and living in it