“We share the despair of the families that have been affected, we share the grief of French society and, together with all forces of democracy, we share the concern that terrorism, anti-Semitism and extremism is once again casting its long shadow over Europe”, said President of the Storting in his appeal at University Square in Oslo.

“The attack in France is not only an attack on freedom of expression but also an attack on the trust and confidence that is such a vital element in a democratic society. We do not want a society based on suspicion. We do not want a society where we are forced to submit to fear and self-censorship. Terror and violence undermines the free Europe – terror and violence in France also spreads fear among us”, he continued.

The ceremony was opened by newspaper cartoonists Roar Hagen and Finn Graff drawing on a canvas. In addition to the appeal from the President of the Storting, appeals were made by Minister of Culture Thorild Widwey, Mayor of Oslo Fabian Stang, the French ambassador Jean-Marc Rives, Thomas Spence from the Norwegian Union of Journalists, the Rector of the University of Oslo Ole Petter Ottersen and Harald Stanghelle from the Norwegian Association of Editors.

The terror victims in Paris were honoured by a one minute silence.

People attending the ceremony were encouraged to do their own drawings on canvases at University Square.

The ceremony was organized by the Norwegian Press Association, the Norwegian Union of Journalists, Association of Norwegian Editors and FECO (the Federation of Cartoonists) in collaboration with the French Embassy in Norway.