I am Charlie

                “Je suis Charlie” is the new slogan for freedom of speech and freedom of expression.  On January 7^th, 2015, there was a massacre in Paris, France at the offices of a newspaper called Charlie Hebdo.  Twelve people were killed in the shooting.  The website shut down after the shooting and when it went back up, “Je suis Charlie” was born.  The phrase was initially used on twitter and spread internationally as people used #jesuischarlie or #iamcharlie in recognition of what happened.  The phrase, “Je suis Charlie”, started to be used in music, cartoons, and printed internationally.  People were (and are) wearing buttons with the phrase in support of recognition. 

The newspaper, Charlie Hebdo released its new cover for January.

 The image depicts Muhammad holding a poster with the phrase “Je suis Charlie” while shedding a tear.  The print was translated in seven languages.  “TOUT EST PARDONNE” reads: “All is Forgiven”.  The French government granted around € 1 million for support of the magazine.

            

              After the shooting, there were a series of rallies in France to honor the victims of the attack.

     

              In the Unites States, we experience shootings more often than most countries and France is one of the countries that very rarely face shootings like this one.  There are negative overviews of the matter.  People are saying that “Je suis Charlie” isn’t facing political and cultural problems.  There are people criticizing George Clooney for wearing a pin with the phrase to the Golden Globes and an Iranian paper was banned from publishing pictures of Clooney with the pin on.  I think recognizing what happened and spreading awareness is perfectly fine and it isn’t questions political or cultural problems.  The people need to grieve and overcome what has happened.  “Je suis Charlie” is the most recent symbol for the freedom of speech and expression and it won’t be the last.