Masked gunmen opened fire in the offices of a French satirical newspaper on Wednesday in Paris, the police said, with initial reports saying that as many as 12 people had been killed and 10 wounded.
And here’s the reason the New York Times buries ten paragraphs deep:
The newspaper, Charlie Hebdo, has been attacked in the past for satirizing Islam and the Prophet Muhammad. Its offices were firebombed in 2011 after publishing a cartoon of the prophet on its cover promising “100 lashes if you don’t die laughing!”
Obviously it’s time to bring back Everyone Draw Mohammed Day. So mark your calendars for May 20th.
Tags: cartoons, Charlie Hebdo, Draw Mohammed Day, France, Jihad, Media Watch, Paris, terrorism
Now’s a good time to issue a challenge to everybody who’s always loudly supporting free speech. It’s easy to agitate in favor of the 1st amendment when it’s the virgin mary + elephant dung for an “art project” in NYC, since you’re less likely to have a fatwa against you. Events like this – when there’s more of a threat and your courage is in check – help show who the true believers are.
… and Molly Norris, wherever you are … good luck.