On 1/7/2015, 12 people (8 journalists, 2 police officers, a caretaker and a visitor) were massacred at the offices of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo by 2 Islamist terrorist brothers, Said & Cherif Kouachi. The motive was believed to be hatred for Charlie Hebdo's cartoons which joked about Islamic leaders, including Muhammad.
While we were in Paris, we decided to check out the memorial to Charlie Hebdo. We began at the Place de la Republic, a public square bordering the 3rd, 10th and 11th arrondissement. It is a popular gathering place for rallies. The phrase Je suis Charlie has come to mean solidarity against the attacks.
Place de la Republique
The offices of Charlie Hebdo is located at 10 Rue Nicolas-Appert. It's still guarded 1 month after the attack.
A memorial is set up at the end of the street, nicknamed Place de la Liberte D'Expression--Freedom of Speech Place.
While we were there, the Canadian Defense Minister Rob Nicholson came to lay a wreath at the memorial.
2015 02 04
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