Parisians Line Up Empty Shoes in Place of Protest

published 30 November 15

Ahead of intense international climate negotiations at the Le Bourget center in Paris, activists protested in absentia by lining the Place de la République outside the convention center with empty pairs of shoes.

In light of the terrorist attacks on Paris (opens in new tab) earlier this month, city officials cancelled the protest for security reasons. The Guardian (opens in new tab) reports over 10,000 pairs of shoes now stand in place of the 200,000 participants originally expected to take part in Sunday's march. The result is stunning in its silent impact.

Sarah Lindig

I am an experienced editor, writer, and creative strategist, specializing in fashion, beauty, and lifestyle content for digital media outlets, as well as video and social platforms. While I currently operate as a freelance contributor/consultant, with such clients as The Zoe Report, my 10+-year background in the industry was cultivated at the dot-coms of elite publications, including Harper’s BAZAAR, ELLE, and Marie Claire.