Thousands of Montrealers marched in solidarity with Paris on Sunday, making their way to the French consulate downtown and standing in silence around the candles, flags and flowers that have been collecting there since Friday.

Children had their faces painted in blue, white and red, and adults waved French flags as they followed politicians — Mayor Denis Coderre had announced the march on Saturday — toward the consulate. Some cried and others embraced, all saying it’s important for Montreal to show support for Paris after Friday’s deadly attacks that killed at least 129 people.

“We will not cede to intimidation,” Coderre told the crowd to loud applause, breaking the silence that was held throughout the march. “We will protect our values of democracy and freedom, and form a common front against hate and intolerance.”

France’s consul general in Montreal, Catherine Feuillet, walked alongside Coderre.

“We are very moved and very proud of the solidarity shown by Montrealers today,” she said. “They showed the same solidarity after the horror of the massacres that took place at Charlie Hebdo.”

“When normal citizens, going about their lives on terraces or in concert halls, are involved, Montrealers show solidarity and defend the same values: tolerance and the capacity to live together in peace.”

Feuillet said the initial shock of the attacks is now giving way to defiance.





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GALLERY: Gallery: Montrealers march for Paris People participate in a march of solidarity in Montreal, on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015, to show their support for the victims of the Paris attacks. Graham Hughes /The Canadian Press

A woman is overcome by emotion outside the French consulate in Montreal on Sunday, Nov. 15 , 2015 after a march in solidarity with Paris. John Kenney /Montreal Gazette

A woman holds a sign proclaiming she has no fear in Montreal Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015. during a march in solidarity with Paris. John Kenney /Montreal Gazette

A woman holds a French flag outside the French consulate in Montreal on Sunday, Nov. 15 , 2015, after a march in solidarity with Paris. John Kenney /Montreal Gazette

From the left: Kathleen Weil, minister of immigration, diversity and inclusiveness for the Quebec Liberal party, Catherine Feuillet, French consul general in Montreal, Montreal mayor Denis Coderre, Christine St-Pierre, minister of international relations and la francophonie for the Quebec Liberal party, Mélanie Joly, minister of Canadian heritage for the federal Liberal party and François Legault, leader of the Coalition Avenir Québec in Montreal, Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015. during a march in solidarity with Paris. John Kenney /Montreal Gazette

Women sit beside a makeshift memorial outside the French consulate in Montreal on Sunday, Nov. 15 , 2015, after a march in solidarity with Paris. John Kenney /Montreal Gazette

Catherine Feuillet (left), French consul general in Montreal, speaks with members of the Montreal chapter of an organization called the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects outside the French consulate in Montreal Sunday, Nov. 15 , 2015, after a march in solidarity with Paris. John Kenney /Montreal Gazette

People stand outside the French consulate in Montreal on Sunday, Nov. 15 , 2015. after a march in solidarity with Paris. John Kenney /Montreal Gazette

A woman places a candle at a makeshift memorial outside the French consulate in Montreal on Sunday, Nov. 15 , 2015. after a march in solidarity with Paris. John Kenney /Montreal Gazette

People stand outside the French consulate in Montreal on Sunday, Nov. 15, 2015 after a march in solidarity with Paris and the victims of the Paris terrorist attacks. The attacks Friday killed 127 people. John Kenney /Montreal Gazette

A photo superimposed on a French flag sits within a makeshift memorial outside the French consulate in Montreal on Sunday, Nov. 15 , 2015. after a March in solidarity with Paris.

“There was shock, and then a great sadness. Now, there’s a will to say that we are not afraid, that we will continue to believe in what we are. It’s about hope now.”

Karim Chahal, who works with the Association of Islamic Charitable Projects, walked among the crowd with other members of the association.

“As a Muslim, as an Arab, as a Montrealer, it’s important for me to be here today to tell people that this was a barbaric act,” he said. “I want people to know that Islam does not agree with this.”

Michel Fenollar walked alone on Sunday, carrying a French flag. He moved to Montreal from France 15 years ago. Most of his family and friends still live there. He was visiting France two weeks ago, and was supposed to attend the France-Germany soccer game Friday night at the Stade de France, where three suicide bombings took place near the entrance gates.

He ended up coming home earlier than expected and was watching the game live at home instead on Friday when he noticed the announcers sounding strange. He started checking the news online to see what was happening, and froze.

“They were already saying 18 people had died at that point,” he said.

His son, 23, still lives in France and often spends his nights out in Paris.

“I spent the entire night on my phone trying to make sure everyone was safe. It was horrifying,” he added, describing how powerless he felt.

His son, parents and friends were safe, he said, but something needs to change.

“There’s a feeling of revolt,” he said from outside the consulate, where he watched as people added poems and flowers to a growing circle of tokens and peace signs. “We’re here to gather together today, but we’d also like to see some concrete changes made, it can’t go on like this.”

He spoke briefly with Coderre when the march came to an end.

“I told him the last time I shook his hand was right here,” he said, pointing to the consulate. “It was after the Charlie Hebdo attacks. I don’t ever want to shake his hand under similar circumstances again.”

jfeith@montrealgazette.com

Twitter.com/jessefeith