The French Consul General in Atlanta has called for a “solidarity rally” in the lobby of the consulate at 11:30 a.m. on Sunday in the wake of the terrorist attacks in Paris.
The rally is to take place in the lobby of the Buckhead Tower at Lenox Square, 3399 Peachtree Road NE, according to a statement from the consul general. Packs and handbags were not permitted in the lobby. The statement urged people to take MARTA to the rally.
On Saturday, worried Atlantans reached out to family and friends living in Paris, following Friday's attacks that killed at least 129 people and injured hundreds of others with some in critical condition.
Marietta resident Jim Glover, 59, said his cousin lives in Paris and that she is OK. Glover himself just a few weeks ago ate at one of the restaurants attacked last night.
"I'm still alive today because I came home," he said.
Alexandre Proia, 52, also of Marietta, said he has brothers and cousins who live in Paris and are safe. The choreographer is a former dancer with the Paris Opera Ballet.
“I was in New York when 9/11 happened. It brought me back to that early morning – the shock," he said. "I thought, ‘Oh wow, here we go again.’ “
Proia added that he heard two of his friends might have gone to the Bataclan music venue where an estimated at least 80 people were shot to death by terrorists. He still hasn't heard if they are safe.
"I'm still very worried," he said.
The death toll from the attacks totaled 127 as of early Saturday afternoon. President François Hollande called the attacks an "act of war" by the group ISIS, which claimed responsibility
Many Georgians took to social media to show solidarity with France and mourn those killed in Paris.
Facebook, Twitter and Instagram users posted photos and memories of their own time in Paris and created profile pictures tinted with blue, white and red, the colors of France's flag.
In response to a Facebook callout by the AJC, Kyle Young, an Atlantan in Paris, wrote last night that she could see the darkened bulk of Notre Dame cathedral through her windows. "The streets are quiet here and the police have told us all to 'stay inside.' The night is broken only by the almost constant sound of sirens breaking the still air," she wrote.
A woman from Powder Springs identified as NikNak Riley posted a similar note from Paris: "I'm here now, just moved my flight up to tomorrow morning. Having to cut my vacation short and come home to Atlanta. . . . Right now all we hear is sirens, looking out from my balcony there is no one on the streets."
Check AJC.com for more updates on the Paris attacks throughout the day.
About the Author
