The Three Days in America festival scheduled for this weekend in Paris has been cancelled, after organisers received death threats from a group claiming links to Al Qaida. Event organisers said they decided to postpone the festival for the public's safety.
Death threats and warnings suggesting the event might be attacked were made in anonymous telephone calls and a poorly-written letter containing spelling errors. The threats claimed the festival's organisers support "American imperialists" and the new French president, Nicolas Sarkozy. Some people refer to the right-wing president as "Sarkozy the American" for his pro-US views.
After meeting police and anti-terrorist officers, Gilles Yolle, the festival director, said he did not regret calling off the festival, planned for this weekend in the Parc Saint Cloud on the outskirts of Paris. The event was expected to attract 20,000 visitors.
The festival, featuring country music and gospel music by American and European performers, line-dancing, a display of classic American cars and tributes to Elvis Presley and John Wayne, was also targeted last year. Press officer Chantal Tenot said, "Last year we received threats several months before the event, but we discovered they came from a small group of North Africans in the banlieue and we were able to deal with them. This time when we received the letter with a mixture of threats, mentioning al-Qaida and full of spelling mistakes we weren't sure how serious it was. But coming just before the event we couldn't take the risk. It's in a big park and we cannot have a security officer up every tree."
Tenot told reporters that organisers hope to re-arrange the festival for September. "Then the elections will have long been over and hopefully the political situation will have calmed down a bit," she said.
So sad to hear about the threats. Music and culture can do so much to heal and bring joy to the world, and then some bad speller with an agenda wrecks it all...
Your blog's new theme is such a great fit! Your writing and images really shine.
Posted by: KG | 25 May 2007 at 07:22
Such a shame...I will jump out on a limb and say they should hold this event regardless of the threats, up the security, we can't live in a bubble can we? This stuff makes me plain plain sick! what's shaken chica???? just catching up with you today! xo
Posted by: berrie | 23 May 2007 at 19:40
One of the most hateful traits of humanity is threatening the freedoms of others with violence. I'm not going to cluck and say, well, these are the times we live in. No. I'm going to say: May their hatred double back on them and pulverize them! Which of course it will eventually, since what you put out there comes back to you one way or another.
Posted by: Colette | 22 May 2007 at 19:51
The kids went to an outdoor festival here today....they would be devastated to hear of cancellation because of terrorist threats. Of course they would heed it…but what a horrible restrictive way to live. If only the world was a little kinder all around! I have been reading some very disturbing things lately! It’s not a happy world for sure!
Informative Tara…thank- you!
Hugs Sherrie
Posted by: giggles | 22 May 2007 at 11:55
Hmmm, I'm starting to discover the twisted layers that make up the so-called "war against terror" as well as the equally twisted layers that make up terrorist warfare. Most days I sit and watch and learn - feeling terribly ignorant and rather naive. Somedays I feel my blood start to boil at the heinous lengths people on all sides will go to in order to defend their power and protect what they have decided is more valuable than the lives and freedoms of others.
This is a game I'd rather not know about, I'd rather run home to my Grandma's living room for a cup of tea and a nice chat. But this is reality, it's part of the world that we are all part of and I might as well face up to it, try to understand it and figure out what I can do about it, right?
x
Posted by: Frida | 22 May 2007 at 10:01
Sad. Not surprising, but sad. xx, JP
Posted by: JanePoe (aka Deborah) | 22 May 2007 at 05:47
Yes, be safe. Above all else you be safe and careful!!!
xo
Posted by: hollibobolli | 22 May 2007 at 05:24
I hope that they are able to go forward with the festival in September. It is a shame that such boorish behavior must be taken seriously. So sad.
Posted by: ally bean | 22 May 2007 at 02:49
Sounds like it would have been a lot of fun, Tara. Very sad.
Posted by: AnnieElf | 22 May 2007 at 01:55
All of the hard work. That is so frustrating. but for the better.
Your safety and the others is the most important factor.
xo
Robin
Posted by: Robin Sherwood | 22 May 2007 at 01:06
Hi Tara! I've caught up on 9 missed posts and I'm glad I did. Your blog is very informative, honest and beautiful. XXOO
BTW I love the blue look :)
Posted by: Tammy | 21 May 2007 at 22:14