Tributes are pouring in to the 12 victims of the attack on French magazine Charlie Hebdo. People everywhere took to social media to express solidarity. #charliehebdo circled the globe, along with #jesuischarlie translated into scores of different languages.
Vigils were held around the world, their participants holding pencils as a way to honor the fallen cartoonists. Maps showing planned events circulated online. Moments of silence were held to remember them. But there was also defiance, and vows to continue the work of those killed.
Charlie Hebdo’s attorney, quoted in French newspaper Le Monde, said a million copies of the magazine would be published next Wednesday. Le Monde, along with Radio France and France Televisions, released a joint statement offering resources to help the magazine stay afloat. Google also said it would donate 250,000 Euros from its Press Innovation Fund to support the print run.
The Committee to Protect Journalists updated their site with profiles of those lost, and many took to Twitter to say they’d donated to CPJ in honor of Charlie Hebdo.
The magazine itself had been asking for donations to help keep afloat during a difficult financial period. Their website currently says, simply, Je suis Charlie, but a previous donation page can be found here.
Others expressed support by subscribing to the magazine.
Satirists unite
Cartoonists everywhere took up pencils to express their solidarity with the victims.
Many are offering to donate cartoons to next week’s issue of the magazine.
Meanwhile late night comedians took to the air to express their support. “Very few people go into comedy as an act of courage,” said Jon Stewart, “mainly because it shouldn’t have to be that.”
“In this country we take it for granted that it’s our right to poke fun at the untouchable and the sacred,” said Conan, “but today’s tragedy in Paris reminds us very viscerally that it’s a right some people are inexplicably forced to die for.”
Coping with tragedy
“I am in the same mood as the day of 911,” one French bystander told CNN. Indeed the American Psychological Association explains that terrorism works by instilling a sense of helplessness. “It seeks to hold a government or society hostage by fear of destruction and harm.”
There are resources on their website to help those impacted by all-too-common attacks like the one on Charlie Hebdo.
A line from a blog by Matt Welch on Reason.com has been retweeted over a thousand times; “Do you really wanna be Charlie Hebdo? Then get on out there, live and speak bravely. And God help you.”