The Place de la République was crowded with people.
They were gathered by the thousands to pay homage to Samuel Paty, a history professor assassinated and beheaded on Friday in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine.
Thousands “to show that we are not afraid”, as Pierrick says.
"I am Samuel", "Freedom of expression, freedom to teach," chanted people on the spot.
Around the statue in the Place de la République, some waved tricolor flags, others placards on which we could read "it is dark in the land of lights" "I am a Muslim, I am against violence, I am for freedom of expression ”,“ I am a teacher's child ”or“ I am a teacher ”.
Some protesters carried placards displaying cartoons of Muhammad published by Charlie Hebdo.
A man played Hugues Auffray's song “Adieu Monsieur le Professeur” on the guitar, which was sung by many people gathered around him.
Marseillaise were also sung.
Long applause was regularly heard.
In the crowd we could see the Prime Minister Jean Castex, the mayor of Paris Anne Hidalgo, the president of the Ile-de-France region Valérie Pécresse or the leader of the Insoumis Jean-Luc Mélenchon.
The tragedy in Conflans-Sainte-Honorine was qualified as an act of Islamist terrorism by the anti-terrorism prosecution.
Eleven people close to the assailant are in police custody.
