Jean Charles Decoudun, The Armoury Square des Batignolles
On June 25th, the district of Paris so lovingly committed to canvas in those paintings above was attacked, the bomber and nine civilians died, many were wounded and for many more still -- gone are the days when les Batignolles was a peaceful, quiet neighbourhood cloaked in the culture and warmth of those who lived and worked there. Batignolles is now a battlefield. It is a place where people lost their lives in another struggle against injustice. It is a battlefield where once again the lives of individuals become expendable in the face of tyranny.
I entreat you to not leave these men, women and children to die in vain. Stop this senselessness. Do as and what you can for this victims of these cowardly attacks. Rise against those who rule by fear, stand -- and if you cannot help bring him to justice than take the hand of your neighbour and do for them what you would have someone do for you because there is no better way to undo fear than with compassion.
Tomorrow, you will celebrate this country. For some of you, it is and has always been your home -- for those like me, it is a new but warm and welcoming place that I have grown to love already, in my months here. But tomorrow, as you raise your glasses to toast the United States, remember that she is a country not defined by her leaders, or her armies, her governments or her churches -- but by each person and every person -- rich, poor, of any nationality or religion, clergy or criminal.