While a wave of grief rang out around the streets of the 11th arrondissement of Paris, cartoonists and journalists have led the social media movement which is trending worldwide as users take to the airwaves, the internet and the streets to express their grief for victims and show their support and unwavering commitment to freedom of speech. The hashtag #JeSuisCharlie (translating to ‘I am Charlie’) has sparked a worldwide movement over Facebook, Twitter and Instagram supporting those who lost their lives, and standing as a united front against terror attacks which aim to contain freedom of expression.
Messages such as; ‘Terror can’t contain freedom‘, ‘In the end freedom of speech always prevails‘ and ‘The pen is mightier than the sword‘ are the overriding themes with French President François Hollande leading the twitter-fest saying, “No barbaric act will never extinguish the freedom of the press. We are a united country.”
History bears a long scar of attempts to quell freedom of expression, but an even stronger vein of courageous individuals and groups who stand to protect this basic democratic right and the cornerstone of a free society. Today, the far flung corners of the world are reached instantaneously by the internet and have the remarkable, yet unsurprising ability to unite the world in a common show of love, unity and bravery. Voltaire said it best…
In the wake of the Paris attacks, Prime minister Tony Abbott condemned the “barbaric act”, saying;
” Australia stands with the people and the government of France at this difficult time. The thoughts of all Australians are with the families of those who have lost their lives in this barbaric act. Freedom of expression is the cornerstone of a free society.”
Image by cartoonist Dave Walker @davewalker
Many people are replacing their profile photos on Facebook and Twitter with variations on the monochromatic image of “Je Suis Charlie” – Are you standing alongside the movement? Tell us how…