Florence responded immediately to the shooting that took place on January 7 at French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo’s office in Paris.
A group of university students, workers and tourists stood together in piazza Santa Croce as a mark of solidarity against the attack. Organized over social media by a group of French Erasmus students, the group held signs bearing the words “Je suis Charlie” by the statue of Dante.
Alice Loumeau, one of the organisers, explained her feelings in relation to the attack and the need to express solidarity for the magazine, “Although we are distant from our country physically, we are profoundly shocked by what has happened and we felt the need to come together in Florence as a mark of solidarity towards the victims of the attack. Freedom of expression must be defended at any cost.”
