Demonstrators thrust pens defiantly skyward in central Paris on Wednesday evening, in a show of solidarity after a brutal attack on the satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo.
Despite a continuing manhunt for the gunmen, Parisians turned out by the thousands to condemn the violence.
In a show of peaceful defiance in the face of the shocking attack that left 12 dead, thousands at Place de la République held a moment of silence at 7 p.m. local time. The silence was followed by resounding applause and shouts of "Charlie, Charlie" from the crowd.
People are holding pens in silence as a symbol, place de la République #Charlie pic.twitter.com/d7C2PPXm1J— Anaïs Bordages (@AnaisBordages) January 7, 2015
During the attack Wednesday, masked gunmen shouted "Allahu akbar!" as they stormed Charlie Hebdo's office while the magazine staff were in an editorial meeting.
One group in the Paris crowd held up signs spelling out "Not Afraid."
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Mashable's Tim Chester described a "respectful hush" from the crowd despite the large numbers gathered in the square.
Hugo Jaliere, 31 (left). "I've been in shock since this morning... It's pens against guns." pic.twitter.com/1hcxDXmKiw— Tim Chester (@timchester) January 7, 2015
Supporters gathered in other French cities as well. In Bordeaux, images of the front page of Charlie Hebdo were projected on the side of the historic Château du Hâ fortress. Heart-wrenching images of the victims of the attack were also being projected on the side of the building.
La Une de #charliehebdo projetée sur les murs de #Bordeaux pic.twitter.com/W7WQ1SjDBy— France3 Aquitaine (@F3Aquitaine) January 7, 2015
Plus de prise de parole, la foule reste... #charliehebdo #bordeaux pic.twitter.com/SNeHRHPnct— France3 Aquitaine (@F3Aquitaine) January 7, 2015
In Toulouse, thousands silently held signs reading "I am Charlie." The phrase Je Suis Charlie has become an emotional rallying cry of supporters of the publication the world over.