Alliance Française tributes in silence to terror victims

Macau also felt the grief and shock for the massacre at the Charlie Hebdo magazine, as some French migrants joined their compatriots in Paris for a minute of silence tribute in honor of the victims yesterday evening.
“A lot of French people say this is like France’s ‘9/11’ incident; it’s a lot of emotion for everybody,” said Xavier Garnier, director of the Alliance Française de Macao (AF Macao), adding that such a moment made them feel more connected to their French background.
About fifteen French expats and Chinese students gathered at the AF Macao where they turned the television to a French channel and joined in the nationwide minute of silence at 7 p.m.
local time.
“We did it simultaneously; we could see the president on TV. It is very important for us to share this moment, because when we live abroad, like here in Macau, when something like this happens in our country, we feel more French than usual,” stressed Garnier.
The terrorist attack on the satirical weekly left twelve dead, including some prominent cartoonists, an economist and police officer. “Some of the victims – especially Cabu and Wolinski – were like our grandfathers, as we had known them as cartoonists since we were children,” said Garnier. “I feel very sad, as if I had lost my grandfather, because they had always been with us in our lives.”
The widespread slogan “Je suis Charlie [I am Charlie]” also appeared at the AF Macao’s office, showing commemoration and solidarity in the fight for freedom of speech.
“We are all shocked by such violent action. We couldn’t expect this. For sure it will bring a big change in France. Now all the French people want to be together, not to be divided anymore,” said the director.