People flocked to Manhattan's Washington Square Park holding up pens and placards that bore the motto "Je Suis Charlie" (I am Charlie). The phrase has become a rallying cry for millions around the globe as people are showing support for freedom of expression, a right they believe was attacked by Islamist terrorists, who stormed on Wednesday the office of Charlie Hebdo magazine for publishing caricatures on Prophet Muhammad.
The attackers killed twelve people in Paris, including cartoonists, the editor and police officers outside the building. A man who is believed to have had links to the terrorists was wiped during a police operation on Friday, after he took several people outside the capital hostage. Of those, four had purportedly been killed before the rescue operation began.
The events of the three days left a total of 17 people dead in France. Their deaths will be mourned Sunday in a massive unity march in Paris, which is expected to be attended by a large crowd of officials from across Europe and also from Russia.
