“Voices in a Democracy: 11/13 Paris” was born out of a conversation about how to represent freedom, courage, and resilience in a context where others hijack the narrative and use it to spread paranoia, fear, and hate. I was deeply affected by the way people in Paris made such vigorous attempts to reclaim joy and meaning in life in spite of their sadness and shock.

People socialized, gathered, hugged, went to cafes, bars, restaurants, and concerts although they were scared. By taking those actions they showed that they were trying to find "joie de vivre" in daily life. I hope this project will offer a space to celebrate the voices of ordinary individuals who refuse to surrender to terror, anger, dread, and the threat of increased militarization.

The sense of connectedness among Parisians was truly inspiring; their actions challenge the simplistic media messages and transcend the events of 11/13 Paris.