History Made in Paris Rally

Today in France, history was made. The world saw every age, every race, every sex and every background reunite for a rally that has fiercely illuminated the sheer importance of the three values that form France's very backbone; liberté, égalité, and fraternité. What was most noticeable about the rally today was not how angry the French were, or how much they were hungry for vengeance, or the extent to which they were adversarial, but rather the joy, sense of community and amitié apparent between all those participating. It was a truly remarkable, heart-warming union of people, showing their true colours in order to demonstrate that we will never, in any circumstance, show submission or stay silent in the face of terror.

The hoardes of mobilised crowds made their journey from Bastille all the way to Nation, a route poignantly reminiscent of the 14th July, 1789, when the French people united against a force that they perceieved as undermining the very same idea of the equality and freeedom. Flags, creatively-crafted signs, jumbo pencils and blidning, fluorescent shell-suits reading an assortment of messages such as "c'est l'encre qui doit couler, pas sang", were all visible during this beautiful pilgrammage for justice. The streets were infilitrated with an overwhelmingly varied group of cultures, holding hands and chanting inspiring maxims in unison. One couldn't help feel that they were taking part in a lost scene from Victor Hugo's Les Miserables, with slightly more vuvuzelas.

What has become clear from the march, and what we could perhaps use as a paradigm for future change, is the capability we have of creating a very powerful, yet peaceful reunion of people and cultures, in an unbelievably short space of time.