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A crowd of over 3000 attended the vigil for the victims of the Paris massacre. Photo: Getty Images
Emotions ran high as 3000 French nationals and supporters gathered in Melbourne's Federation Square holding 'je suis Charlie' signs in solidarity with journalists and cartoonists murdered in Paris.
Organisers fought back tears as they asked the crowd to hold up placards and pens in the air in defiance of extremists on Thursday evening.
After a minute's silence, cries of "je suis Charlie" ("I am Charlie" in English) - came from the crowd.
During the vigil at Federation Square.
Hours after masked gunmen shot dead 12 people dead at satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo, a spontaneous demonstration was held in Paris with people holding up the same signs.
Organiser Maeva Siena, whose mother a friends of one of the shot cartoonists, said she held the event to show support to her country.
"I want to show them that we are together, even if we are far away from our country," she said.
"We show them that we are not scared. We will continue to talk. we will continue to speech.
"We lost famous people, but we also lost a part of our freedom."
Ms Siena said she was "emotional" at the number of people who turned up, after 900 indicated they would on Facebook.
Her co-organiser Laura Lassitte, from Bordeaux, decided to hold a demonstration after hearing the news from a journalist in Province on Wednesday night.
"For me, when I learnt they were killed, it was shocking," she said.
"I know this magazine since from when I was young."
The pair met on Facebook and posted an event telling people to wear black and bring their pens and pencils.
Avid Charlie Hebdo fan Collin Gormoud stood with four friends each holding copies of the magazine he receives weekly in the mail from France.
"I like it because it's bringing this satiric view about all the news and politics and it's one of the first and last media in France that can express himself freely," he said.
Mr Gormoud said he was "devastated" when he heard the news, but standing together with Melbourne's French community was helping him heal.
"I hope Charlie Hebdo will keep producing their drawings. It's really important that they will not stop," he said.
ABC journalist Alison Caldwell said she came to show her solidarity with Charlie Hebdo and all journalists around the world, including Peter Greste.
"The way they were targeted makes me furious," she said 
Thousands chant 'je suis Charlie' at Fed Square
A crowd of over 3000 attended the vigil for the victims of the Paris massacre. Photo: Getty ImagesOrganisers fought back tears as they asked the crowd to hold up placards and pens in the air in defiance of extremists on Thursday evening.
After a minute's silence, cries of "je suis Charlie" ("I am Charlie" in English) - came from the crowd.
During the vigil at Federation Square. Advertisement
The demonstrations then spread around France and the world.Organiser Maeva Siena, whose mother a friends of one of the shot cartoonists, said she held the event to show support to her country.
"I want to show them that we are together, even if we are far away from our country," she said.
"We show them that we are not scared. We will continue to talk. we will continue to speech.
"We lost famous people, but we also lost a part of our freedom."
Ms Siena said she was "emotional" at the number of people who turned up, after 900 indicated they would on Facebook.
Her co-organiser Laura Lassitte, from Bordeaux, decided to hold a demonstration after hearing the news from a journalist in Province on Wednesday night.
"For me, when I learnt they were killed, it was shocking," she said.
"I know this magazine since from when I was young."
The pair met on Facebook and posted an event telling people to wear black and bring their pens and pencils.
Avid Charlie Hebdo fan Collin Gormoud stood with four friends each holding copies of the magazine he receives weekly in the mail from France.
"I like it because it's bringing this satiric view about all the news and politics and it's one of the first and last media in France that can express himself freely," he said.
Mr Gormoud said he was "devastated" when he heard the news, but standing together with Melbourne's French community was helping him heal.
"I hope Charlie Hebdo will keep producing their drawings. It's really important that they will not stop," he said.
ABC journalist Alison Caldwell said she came to show her solidarity with Charlie Hebdo and all journalists around the world, including Peter Greste.
"The way they were targeted makes me furious," she said
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