For Postmedia Canada: France remembers the 130 killed in Paris attacks

Jul 29

Jul 29 For Postmedia Canada: France remembers the 130 killed in Paris attacks

Nov. 13, 2016

There were no grand speeches from French President Francois Hollande at the ceremony marking the one-year anniversary of the Paris terror attacks.

Nor were there any attempts to comfort the French public with rousing calls of unity by other talking heads.

At the request of the victims’ families — who wanted to ensure no one politicized the solemn event ahead of a French election — ceremonies held at the various sites of the terrorist attacks were simple, and sombre.

Starting from the Stade de France and ending at the Bataclan concert hall, Hollande and Paris Mayor Anne Hidalgo travelled to each site where they unveiled six plaques bearing the names of the 130 people killed on Nov. 13, 2015, without uttering a word.

Instead, they handed the mic to the son of victim Manuel Dias, Michael, who called for integration and tolerance in the only official speech of the day.