As news of the Paris attacks – killing over 129 people – filled news bulletins and social media feeds, it didn’t take long before cities around the world retaliated, lighting up their most iconic buildings with the colours of the French flag in a show of solidarity with Parisians.
Blue, white and red lit up the Opera House and the One World Trade Center, along with Jerusalem’s Old City wall and San Francisco’s City Hall.
As people all over the world posted images with the hashtags #prayforparis and #peaceforparis, a pianist drove 400 miles after first hearing of the attacks as he sat in a German pub.
Davide Martello was soon playing John Lennon’s Imagine on his portable piano outside Paris’ Bataclan theatre where over 80 people were killed.
Soon onlookers crowded around, with images and footage going viral. It’s one of many responses showing the world is collectively pushing to shine some light within the darkness of such a brutal attack against humanity.
And the driving force behind the global response may be best explained by the pianist himself: “I just knew I had to do something.”
Sydney’s Opera House was lit up in blue, white and red. NSW Premier Mike Baird posted an image of the Opera House lit up, with the words: “The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.”
As was the One World Trade Center’s spire.
And Jerusalem’s Old City wall.
Along with San Francisco’s City Hall.
The Brandenburg Gate in Berlin stands tall in the French flag colours as people lay flowers outside the French Embassy.
Before the Los Angeles Kings play the Edmonton Oilers, the Staples Center ice is lit up.
Dubai stands in solidarity with the rest of the world as The Burj Al Arab Hotel is lit up in blue, white and red.
A pianist man plays John Lennon’s Imagine outside Paris’ Bataclan theatre.
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