The Republican marches (French: Marches républicaines) were a series of rallies that took place in cities across France on 10–11 January 2015 to honour the victims of the Charlie Hebdo shooting, the Montrouge shooting and the Porte de Vincennes siege, as well as to voice support for freedom of speech and freedom of the press.[2] French government officials estimated that the rallies were attended by up to 3.7 million people nationwide, making them the largest public rallies in French history. By their broad appeal, they were the first mass movement of their kind since 1944, when Paris was liberated from the Germans at the end of World War II.[3][4]

Republican marches
Demonstrators at the Place de la République, Paris, 11 January 2015
Date10 January 2015 (2015-01-10) – 11 January 2015 (2015-01-11)
Location
France, international
See: list
Caused byCharlie Hebdo shooting (mainly)
GoalsFight against terrorism
Freedom of speech
Freedom of the press
MethodsRallies, marches
Number
3.7 million in France[1]
100k+ internationally
Attended by over 80 world leaders

In Paris, due to the expected number of people, three streets were planned for the march from Place de la République to Place de la Nation. It was estimated that between 1.5 and 2 million people marched down and nearby Boulevard Voltaire in Paris.[5][6] The Paris marches were attended by over 80 world leaders, from both Europe and around the world, including President François Hollande. The presence during the marches of foreign leaders who are accused of not respecting freedom of speech in their own country has been criticised.[7]

In other cities in France, more than 300,000 rallied in Lyon, about a quarter of its population. More than 100,000 marched in the streets of Rennes, Toulouse, Bordeaux, Grenoble, Montpellier and Marseille (within two days). Major rallies took place in Montreal, Brussels, Berlin, Amsterdam and Vienna.[4]

In an interview prior to the Republican marches, cartoonist Luz, one of the survivors of the Charlie Hebdo attack, described the show of support for the magazine as "wonderful", but bemoaned a lack of diversity of views in the public discourse following the attacks, which he said served the purposes of politicians, as well the use of symbols, which he characterised as contrary to the values of the magazine. He noted that, following the attacks, "La Marseillaise" had been sung many times by the public, which his dead colleagues would have scorned.[8] Also speaking prior to the marches, Willem, another surviving cartoonist, said that a demonstration in support of free expression would be "naturally a good thing", but rejected the support of far-right figures such as Marine Le Pen and Geert Wilders: "We vomit on those who suddenly declare that they are our friends".[9]

Main places edit

January 10 edit

France edit

 
Leaders of the Sunni, Orthodox, Bektashi, and Catholic communities of Albania, in Paris, 11 January 2015

International edit

January 11 edit

France edit

International edit

Notable participants edit

France edit

International edit

Europe
North America
South America


Asia
Africa
Institutions

Did not attend edit

National Front controversy edit

During the organisation march, a controversy arose when Marine Le Pen was told she was not invited in the marches. This is due to the National Front reputation of divisiveness. François Lamy, one of the organisers, said it is not where the National Front should be; it is not where a political party which, for years, has divided French citizens because of their origin or their religion should be.[63] The President closed this political issue declaring that "every citizen can come...it is not controlled."[64]

References edit

  1. ^ Le Parisien, ed. (11 January 2015). "Une marche républicaine historique : plus de 3,7 millions de Français ont défilé". Retrieved 12 January 2015..
  2. ^ "Paris Terror Suspects Killed in Twin French Police Raids". Bloomberg. 9 January 2014. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  3. ^ Hinnant, Lori; Adamson, Thomas (11 January 2015). "Officials: Paris Unity Rally Largest in French History". Associated Press. Archived from the original on 11 January 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Paris attacks: Millions rally for unity in France". BBC News. 12 January 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  5. ^ Faiola, Anthony; Witte, Griff (11 January 2015). "Massive crowds join march for solidarity in Paris". The Washington Post. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  6. ^ "France attacks: Million-strong unity rally in Paris". BBC News. 11 January 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  7. ^ "Marche républicaine : "C'est dur d'être récupéré par des cons"". Le Point.fr. 11 January 2015.
  8. ^ "Luz : "Tout le monde nous regarde, on est devenu des symboles"". Les Inrockuptibles. 10 January 2015.
  9. ^ "'We gaan nog zeker twintig jaar door'". Volkskrant. 10 January 2015.
  10. ^ "Marche républicaine à Toulouse : 150 000 personnes ont défilé". LaDepeche.fr.
  11. ^ "110 000 personnes rassemblées à Grenoble". Le Dauphiné. 11 January 2015.
  12. ^ "Montpellier : près de 100 000 personnes pour la marche citoyenne". MidiLibre.fr.
  13. ^ Plus de 70 000 personnes mobilisées à Clermont sur La Montagne
  14. ^ Plus de 45 000 personnes à Metz: du jamais vu! sur Le Républicain Lorrain
  15. ^ Marche républicaine à Nîmes : les premières images sue Le Midi Libre
  16. ^ "Avignon : 19 000 personnes à la marche républicaine". MidiLibre.fr.
  17. ^ "Je suis Charlie : 13.000 personnes dans le rassemblement à Belfort". France Bleu. 11 January 2015.
  18. ^ "Sorj Chalandon, Grand prix du roman de l'Académie française". Le Point (in French). 28 October 2011. Retrieved 29 November 2011.
  19. ^ Le Courrier picard (11 January 2015). "COMPIÈGNE 4000 personnes se rassemblent". Le Courrier picard.
  20. ^ "Unas mil personas se reunieron en la embajada francesa en Buenos Aires". Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  21. ^ "Rio, São Paulo e Brasília também têm passeatas em solidariedade às vítimas de Paris". O Globo (in Portuguese). 11 January 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  22. ^ "Cerca de 250 pessoas participam de ato no Rio em solidariedade às vítimas de ataques em Paris". CBN (in Portuguese). Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  23. ^ "Rio e São Paulo também têm passeatas em solidariedade às vítimas de Paris". Mídia Max (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 13 January 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  24. ^ Sejkora, Jiří (2015-01-09). "Je suis Charlie. Pardubicemi tiše prošel pochod za Francii". Pardubický deník (in Czech). Retrieved 2021-09-27.
  25. ^ "Je Suis Charlie". Civil Georgia. 8 January 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  26. ^ Nicolas Ottersbach (11 January 2015). "Gedenkzug für Charlie Hebdo in Bonn: Lichterkette wird zu Lichtermeer – GA-Bonn". Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  27. ^ "Auch Hannover ist Charlie". HAZ (in German). Archived from the original on 12 January 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  28. ^ "Je suis Charlie , "φώναξε" σιωπηλά η Ρόδος". rodosreport.gr (in Greek). 11 January 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  29. ^ Diacono, Tim (11 January 2015). "Justice Minister joins Charlie Hebdo tribute march in Valletta". Malta Today. Retrieved 17 January 2015.
  30. ^ "Marchan en Guadalajara por atentado contra 'Charlie Hebdo'". Retrieved 14 January 2015.
  31. ^ "Charlie Hebdo: Jerusalem and Ramallah rally in solidarity". Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  32. ^ "Rallies held from Gaza to Tokyo in solidarity with France". The Times of Israel. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  33. ^ "Sute de clujeni au participat la marșul  Je suis Charlie. Manifestări de solidaritate au avut loc și la București. GALERIE FOTO". România curată. 9 January 2015.
  34. ^ "Ankara'da Paris protestosu – TRT Türk Haberler". Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  35. ^ "İstanbul'da gazeteciler Charlie Hebdo için yürüdü". BBC Türkçe. 11 January 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  36. ^ Özgür Gelecek. "İzmir: Je suis Charlie". Archived from the original on 4 August 2017. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  37. ^ "BBC News – Cardiff Bay vigil after French terror attacks". BBC News. 11 January 2015.
  38. ^ (in Ukrainian) Kharkiv staged a march in memory of victims of the terrorist attack in Paris, Ukrayinska Pravda (10 January 2015)
    (in Russian) At the monument to Shevchenko rallied against terrorism in France (photos), SQ (10 January 2015)
  39. ^ "In biting cold Kyivans honor victims of Charlie Hebdo attack". KyivPost. 7 December 2022.
  40. ^ Avila Gonzalez, Carlos (12 January 2015). "'Je Suis Charlie' rally at San Francisco City Hall". San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  41. ^ "El mundo marchó para rechazar ataque a Charlie Hebdo".
  42. ^ a b c "Paris, Marshimi i Paqes" (in Albanian). Prime Minister Office of Albania. 11 January 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  43. ^ "Premiér Sobotka a ministr Zaorálek uctili pochodem v Paříži oběti teroristického útoku". Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  44. ^ Randlaid, Sven (2014-01-11). "Eesti välisminister osales Pariisis ühtsusmarsil" [Estonian Minister of Foreign Affairs participated in Paris in the march of unity]. ERR Uudised (in Estonian). Eesti Rahvusringhääling. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
  45. ^ "PM Stubb: "Attending Paris march brave for some heads of state"". Yle. 11 January 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  46. ^ "Georgia's PM participates in solidarity rally in Paris". Agenda.ge. 11 January 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  47. ^ "Enda Kenny joins Paris unity march". Irish Independent. 11 January 2015. Retrieved 11 January 2015.
  48. ^ "France/Marche républicaine: Lavrov accueilli par Hollande" (in French). Russia: french.ruvr.ru. 2015-01-11. Archived from the original on 2015-01-14. Retrieved 2015-01-11.
  49. ^ a b "Gojković and Dačić at the Solidarity March in Paris". Voice of Serbia.
  50. ^ "V Parizu tudi Cerar in Erjavec!" [Cerar and Erjavec in Paris too!]. svet24.si (in Slovenian). 11 January 2015.
  51. ^ Poroshenko to attend unity rally in Paris on Sunday, Interfax-Ukraine (10 January 2015)
  52. ^ Huge Show of Solidarity in Paris Against Terrorism, The New York Times
  53. ^ a b c d White House: 'We should have sent someone with a higher profile', CNN
  54. ^ "Armenian Foreign Minister takes part in Unity March in Paris". Public Radio of Armenia. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  55. ^ 中国驻法大使翟隽应邀出席巴黎反恐大游行 (in Chinese). CRI Online. 12 January 2015. Archived from the original on 13 January 2015. Retrieved 12 January 2015.
  56. ^ "'Paris is today the capital of the world'". Telegraph India. 12 January 2015. Archived from the original on January 12, 2015.
  57. ^ "Algérie Presse Service". Archived from the original on 2015-01-11. Retrieved 2015-01-11.
  58. ^ "Des journaux à côté de la plaque". République Togolaise.
  59. ^ Robert, Zoë (2015-01-12). "Iceland's PM Criticized for Not Attending Paris March". Iceland Review. Retrieved 2015-01-15.
  60. ^ Eygló Svala Arnarsdóttir (2015-01-14). "Iceland's PM Regrets Not Attending Paris March". Iceland Review. Retrieved 2015-01-15.
  61. ^ a b c White House: We should have sent someone to Paris march, USA Today
  62. ^ a b America's absence at Paris rally a mistake, Chicago Tribune
  63. ^ «Il n’y a pas de place» pour le Front national à la «marche républicaine» «Il n’y a pas de place pour une formation politique qui, depuis des années, divise les Français, stigmatise les concitoyens en fonction de leur origine ou de leur religion, ou ne se situe pas dans une démarche de rassemblement des Français» http://www.ledauphine.com/france-monde/2015/01/08/marine-le-pen-denonce-son-exclusion-de-la-marche-republicaine
  64. ^ "Tous les citoyens peuvent venir (...), il n'y a pas de contrôles" http://www.franceinfo.fr/actu/faits-divers/article/marche-republicaine-fn-tous-les-citoyens-peuvent-venir-la-manifestation-pour-hollande-628859

External links edit