Standing in solidarity with people of Paris

The recent terror attacks in Paris have left yet another populace shaken by a senseless act of violence and destruction. It is, unfortunately, a feeling New Yorkers know too well.

Seven Long Beach residents lost their lives in the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, and many firefighters and first responders from the area developed, and later died from, illnesses from working on “the pile.”

In the wake of the Paris attacks, believed to have been perpetrated by the Islamic State, people in Long Beach and local officials are attempting to make sense of the tragedy overseas.

“There is always hope,” said County Legislator Denise Ford, who hosts a 9/11 memorial service at the Virginia Avenue Garden of Remembrance each year. “That’s all I can tell people. We can find the strength in one another, and we’ll get by. We were able to get ourselves back together after 9/11 — maybe not 100 percent, but we’re coming back.”

She added that the American spirit has proven to be resilient not just in the face of the 9/11 attacks, but more recently after the Boston Marathon bombing. “So looking at France now, we know — unfortunately — that we have the strength to recover from this,” Ford said.

Many organizations and civic groups in the city took to Facebook last Saturday to express their solidarity with France. “Our thoughts and prayers are with everyone impacted by the terrorist attacks in Paris,” the city said on its Facebook page. “We all stand united as citizens of the world.”

“My heart is full of sadness for the despicable and cowardly acts carried out by the terrorists in France,” said State Assemblyman Todd Kaminsky. “I stand with our freedom-loving brothers and sisters as we mourn the loss of all those who were senselessly murdered. Out of this tragedy must rise a new hope that our light will defeat their darkness.”