By DCist contributor Courtney Vinopal
Since news broke of the devastating terror attacks that took place in Paris late on Friday, cities across the world have organized spontaneous demonstrations of solidarity with France’s capital city. In the District—home to a robust French community—hundreds turned out for a vigil in Lafayette Square on Saturday evening to honor the victims of the attacks.
The France’s ambassador to the United States, Gérard Araud, was in attendance alongside White House Chief of Staff Denis McDonough and David O’Sullivan, the ambassador of the European Union to the United States. Ambassador Araud gave a few short remarks and thanked the American people, who he said remain “not just allies, but friends” with France.
The French ambassador encouraged the public to look beyond the figure of the death toll—the number of casualties is already one of the highest among recent attacks in Western Europe—and consider each individual life that was lost, and the friends and family “who are now carrying the burden of grief, the burden of mourning” each day. He emphasized that France is not a race, religion, or ethnicity but a “volonté de vivre ensemble,” or a willingness to live together.
As darkness fell upon Lafayette Square, attendees observed a moment of silence before singing France’s national anthem, “La Marseillaise.” Candles were lit while citizens from around the world mourned the victims of this year’s second terror attack on the French capital.
Those present had different reasons for attending. For some, Paris was their home, and they were still reeling from the news that their friends and loved ones were in danger. Others came simply to show their support for the country. Patrick Nease, of Charleston, WV, didn’t know anyone personally affected by the attacks but said that this was the best way he knew how to cope with such a tragedy: “Standing in solidarity together, one human to another, is our best defense after an attack like this.”
Additional vigils are planned in cities across the U.S. today, including in San Francisco, Chicago, and New Orleans.
