Hundreds gather in Washington to support Paris victims

WASHINGTON

Hundreds of mourners gathered Saturday in a park across from the White House to support the victims of the deadly terrorist attacks in Paris.

Supporters lit candles in Lafayette Square at the base of a statue of France's Gen. Marquis Gilbert de Lafayette.

France’s Ambassador to the U.S. Gérard Araud thanked the somber crowd for showing support for the casualties and for his country before asking for a minute of silence to commemorate the victims of the attack Friday that has killed at least 129 and wounded 352 others.

"France is at war," said Araud. "France has been hit once again. We’ve had many challenges over the course of our long history. We will overcome once again."

He said the attackers want to pit French citizens against each other.

"France is not a race. France is not a religion. France is not an ethnicity, ethnic group. France is a will to live together," he said. " It’s this will to live together that we must defend today."

Following the moment of silence, the crowd sang the French national anthem.

WASHINGTON

Hundreds of mourners gathered Saturday in a park across from the White House to support the victims of the deadly terrorist attacks in Paris.

Supporters lit candles in Lafayette Square at the base of a statue of France's Gen. Marquis Gilbert de Lafayette.

"France is at war," said Araud. "France has been hit once again. We’ve had many challenges over the course of our long history. We will overcome once again."

He said the attackers want to pit French citizens against each other.

"France is not a race. France is not a religion. France is not an ethnicity, ethnic group. France is a will to live together," he said. " It’s this will to live together that we must defend today."

Following the moment of silence, the crowd sang the French national anthem.