The Voice Project unconditionally condemns the terrible attack on the French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, and any and all attempts to extinguish free press, intimidate writers and artists, or silence the voices of dissent. There is no justification for this aggression, and no place for it in any human society.

Satire is one of the best tools our species has developed, and violence the worst. And as Salman Rushdie has said, “What is freedom of expression? Without the freedom to offend, it ceases to exist.” We must each and every one have the right to use our voices to express our opinions, and fight for the right of every other person to freely express theirs without fear of retribution.

Our hearts and our deepest condolences go out to the staff and families of Charlie Hebdo, and as a global community we must rededicate ourselves now to defending and protecting the fundamental, universal human right to free expression.

Hunter Heaney
Executive Director
The Voice Project