Toulouse, also known as “the pink city” was in mourning because of the tragic terrorist attack that took place on January 7, 2015 in Paris. Terrorists attacked the satirical weekly magazine “Charlie Hebdo” killing 11 people and seriously injuring 11 others. This tragic event was followed by a series of other terrorist attacks in the same region of France within the same week. In less than a week, 17 people were killed and many others seriously injury and left in critical condition.
It is following these awful incidents on French territory that marches in support of Charlie Hebdo and freedom of speech were organized everywhere in France and also abroad. These movements had for cause to condemn the terrorist attacks and to show sympathy for the French people. I came to France during this week and my first memories abroad were marked by those woeful events. In Toulouse, there were signs of “Je suis Charlie” posted on cars, bus and metro stations, public and private offices, and in many places. In brief, the people in Toulouse strongly mobilized to show their solidarity and express their opinions.
In Toulouse the march took place on Saturday, January 10, 2015. Thousands of people gathered at Jean Jaurès around 2:30pm. Well before the march started, all the major roads were closed to cars and a big crowd of people occupied all the streets in the area. Individuals of different ages, sex, and nationalities were present at the demonstration to show that the French people are strong and will always stay united.
From a point of view of a foreign student in Toulouse, I was very surprised to see that many people on the streets holding signs of solidarity written on banderoles, cardboards and T-shirts. The demonstration was animated with applauses and chants of “Je suis Charlie” that the crowd repeated almost every 5 minutes. During the march, the participants were very determined to show that they were really touched by this tragic attack on French soil. The full demonstration lasted approximately three hours and everyone dispersed at the Arnaud Bernard junction. Toulouse had never experienced a demonstration as large as this one.
-Mamadou Balde