Nice, France remains vibrant with flags, flowers, and messages of peace in the wake of the attack on Bastille Day that left 84 people dead over 50 critically injured. The city had planned to hold a remembrance march on Sunday to honor those killed in the attack, but the event has been cancelled due to safety concerns.
More than 10,000 locals had pledged to attend “White March,” a procession aimed to honor those killed and injured on July 14th. “Given the very strong mobilization of law enforcement and emergency and threat, the Alpes-Maritimes authorities have decided not to allow the white march that was to be held Sunday,” announced authorities on Thursday.
French police have become overwhelmed in recent months, and hundreds of thousands of soldiers have been deployed to patrol the streets. This week, French President Francois Hollande has announced that France will begin assembling a new civilian National Guard to help protect innocent citizens from Islamist terrorism. More than 2,500 have already signed up to join the reservists.
The murder of a priest this Tuesday in Normandy may also have influenced Nice’s decision to cancel the parade.
Authorities are still investigativing Mohamad Lahouaiej Bouhel (and possible partners) who drove the through the crowded streets of Nice on Bastille day, but the incident has been labeled as terrorism.
France remains strong, defiant, and united after more than a year of terror. The general sentiment of this proud nation can be summarized in the words of a local bartender living in Nice: “We need to keep living and let the people who are trying to frighten us know that in the end we won’t stop living.”