Durbin Joins Supporters Around The World In Calling For Unity And Peace Following Paris Terrorist Attack
Senator shares remarks made by organizer of Chicago rally
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] –U.S. Senator Dick Durbin (D-IL) spoke on the Senate Floor today to condemn the terrorist attack on a satirical newspaper agency in Paris, France last week, and to speak in support of marchers across the globe – including those in Chicago – who have rallied in support of the principles of freedom and tolerance. This afternoon, the Senate will consider a resolution led by Durbin and Senators Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Ron Johnson (R-WI) expressing our condolences to the families of the victims and our solidarity with the people of France. Senator Durbin will also host a reception with the French Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Gerard Aroud, and the Senate Foreign Relations Committee later today.
“Later today members of the Senate family will have two opportunities to express our solidarity with the people of France in their hour of grief and to reaffirm our commitment to the principles of freedom and tolerance – values that have bound our nations together since the creation of the United States and the French Republic,” Durbin said.
“In Chicago, hundreds of people turned out in the cold to rally at Daley Plaza under American and French flags. One of the organizers of the Chicago rally is a young woman named Eve Zuckerman, who holds joint US and French citizenship and has lived in Chicago for four years. She said that the spasm of violence that has shaken France is not simply an attack on France. In her words, ‘What it really means is that anyone who is for freedom and for tolerance is also under attack.’”
Video of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate Floor is available here.
Audio of Durbin’s remarks on the Senate Floor is available here.
Footage of Durbin remarks on the Senate Floor is available for TV Stations using FTP in high definition here and in standard definition here.
Photo from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee reception is available here.
Senator Durbin’s full remarks as prepared for delivery are available below.
Remarks of Senator Dick Durbin
January 12, 2014
Mr. President, later today members of the Senate family will have two opportunities to express our solidarity with the people of France in their hour of grief and to reaffirm our commitment to the principles of freedom and tolerance – values that have bound our nations together since the creation of the United States and the French Republic.
In a short while, the Senate will consider a resolution condemning the series of terrorist attacks that have shaken France, starting with the attack on the offices of the satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo and ending with a siege Friday at a kosher supermarket in Paris.
Our resolution expresses our condolences to the families of the victims and our solidarity with the people of France. It also expresses our deep commitment to the universal right of freedom of expression – a freedom for which the writers and artists of Charlie Hebdo gave their lives.
I am honored to lead this resolution, along with Senators Murphy and Johnson.
Later this afternoon, Senators and their staffs will have an opportunity to sign a condolence book expressing their sympathy and solidarity to the people of France.
The condolence book will be outside the Senate Foreign Relations Committee Room on the first floor of the Capitol.
In memory of the victims, we will welcome the French Ambassador to the United States, Ambassador Gerard Aroud in the committee room at 4:15.
If the terrorists who attacked Charlie Hebdo and the kosher supermarket in Paris meant to frighten and divide freedom-loving people in France and around the world, they have failed utterly.
Yesterday 4 million people marched in demonstrations in cities across France.
A million-and-a-half people marched in Paris. Authorities said it was the largest gathering in Paris since V - E Day and the largest demonstration in French history.
They marched to declare their solidarity with the victims of the Charlie Hebdo massacre and the supermarket murders, and to demonstrate their unity.
The marchers included Christians, atheists, Muslims and Jews.
President Francois Hollande led the march. He was joined by European and African leaders … Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas … and America’s ambassador to France and our Assistant Secretary of State.
Marchers were also held in other cities around the globe yesterday. From Washington to the West Bank, tens of thousands of people to show their solidarity with the victims of last week’s terrorist attacks and their determination not to bow to the forces of extremism.
In Chicago, hundreds of people turned out in the cold to rally at Daley Plaza under American and French flags.
One of the organizers of the Chicago rally is a young woman named Eve Zuckerman, who holds joint US and French citizenship and has lived in Chicago for four years.
She said that the spasm of violence that has shaken France is not simply an attack on France. In her words, “What it really means is that anyone who is for freedom and for tolerance is also under attack.”
In our own country, in the days after 9/11, our grief was made bearable by the countless acts of courage and kindness we witnessed amidst the carnage.
And so it is with France today.
One story that has touched many in France and around the world concerns a young man who worked at the kosher supermarket in Paris that was attacked on Friday.
The young man risked his life to hide seven Jewish customers in the freezer in the supermarket’s basement. He then risked his life a second time to slip out of the basement and tell police that there were people hidden in the basement.
This young man described the layout of the supermarket and the location of the hostages – crucial details that enabled the police to end the standoff with killing any hostages.
He has been hailed as a hero by citizens of France – and by Israeli President Netanyahu.
One more thing about this hero: He is a Muslim immigrant, born in Mali.
Martin Luther King told us: “We are bound together in a single garment of destiny.”
The millions of people in France and around the world who marched yesterday, and freedom-loving people throughout the world, understand this.
Together, in our unity and resolve, we will overcome this latest awful assault on our shared values.
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