Today I witnessed an amazing event – true solidarity in a real Republic. The Unity Rally in Paris was a demonstration in response to the shootings at the magazine, Charlie Hebdo, the shooting of the policewoman and the shootings in the kosher grocery store. The visual of 3.7 million citizens marching across France, 1 million in Paris, silently behind 44 international leaders spoke volumes. The signs and interviews with people trying to explain themselves – how they feel a sense of pain that their dearest values – liberty, equality and fraternity - have been challenged. It was not a rally in support of Jews per se but in support of free speech and upholding the values France holds dear.
It was also remarkable that the last time the streets had been so populated was following the liberation from the Nazis in 1944. What followed were decades of pain for this...



