Local reactions were immediately apparent. When the news of the attacks broke in Toulouse, I was watching the France vs. Germany game (which was the scene of one attack) in a public setting. The shock and confusion was evident on the faces of many spectators, who set about ensuring the safety of their friends and family in Paris. In the following hours, there was an outpouring of emotion on social media platforms, with many people (French and otherwise) overlaying the tricolor<\/em> on their profile pictures.<\/p>\n In the following days, multiple rallies and events were held throughout Toulouse to show solidarity with the people of Paris. As early as Saturday, about 250 people had gathered at place du Capitole (Toulouse’s town square). The commemorative events continued on the 16th of November, with a minute of silence observed throughout Toulouse at noon, and the archbishop of Toulouse organized a beautiful interfaith mass that night. The climax of Toulouse’s solidarity events came the next day, where a massive 12,000 people showed up at place du Capitole to mourn and show solidarity with Parisians. It was an incredibly moving moment, with local artists making murals to commemorate the occasion, as well as the crowd chanting, praying and singing the Marseillaise<\/em>.<\/p>\n Supporters at Place du Capitole<\/p><\/div>\n![\"Des](\"http:\/\/blogs.dickinson.edu\/toulouse\/files\/2015\/12\/toulouse-solidarite-3.jpeg\")
<\/a>