According to TIME, 8 pm local time on Thursday night, January 8^th, a day of national mourning, lights to the Eiffel Tower were cut off.  The night before, 12 people were killed in a terrorist attack on the offices of magazine Charlie Hebdo.

Armed gunmen stormed the offices of satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, killing 10 journalists and two police officers. The killers, believed to be Islamist extremists, were still on the run Thursday evening local time.

Since the attack, many of the main streets in Frances larger cities have become sites of mourning and solemn demonstrations, with the now familiar phrase, “I am Charlie,” being displayed.

According to Le Monde newspaper, French police said as many as 15,000 people gathered in the Place de la Republique, which was closed to traffic.

Many rallies unfolded Wednesday night in Tours, Toulouse, Brest, Lyon, Rennes and Poitiers, among other cities in France, long regarded as a cradle of democracy and liberty, according to CNN. Demonstrations also occurred in cities such as London, Barcelona, Berlin and Rome.

With four of the magazine’s cartoonists killed, marchers raised pens skyward as sign of fortitude and a community of support.

CNN states that people lit candles, waved banners and paid their respect to the victims at makeshift shrines during the night.

FSA Connection Questions

1. The author seems to offer what main idea?
2. Select the best two sentences from the article that best support the main idea.
3. Which sentence from the article contains an opinion?
4. What is the author’s main purpose in writing this article?
5. What information, if added, could best support the author’s purpose?