Resistance against terrorism: Tunisians reclaim massacre beach

Tunisians have staged a demonstration on the beach where 38 people were gunned down last Friday. At the site where flowers were laid in memory of the dead, the protesters sang songs and chanted in favour of democracy. Several people on jet skis paraded in the water, waving Tunisian flags. The convoy of quad bikes sounding their horns may have seemed disrespectful at a place where so many had so recently been massacred. However one protester told Sky News it was “Tunisian resistance against terrorism”.

We’re feeling maybe we should just go home. There’s hardly anyone by the pool, and when there is, it doesn’t feel like it because it’s so quiet. Before … [the staff] were so happy and welcoming and now you can tell they’re just forcing themselves to do it. It’s a shame.

British tourist Chantella Barrow who was staying in Tunisia when the attack happened on Friday.

The sentiment was no different to the tens of thousands of Parisians who marched after the Charlie Hebdo killings and Londoners who insisted that life must go on after the 7/7 bombings. Chantella Barrow and Jack Buckley from Manchester told Sky News they were on an excursion elsewhere when the gunman opened fire, otherwise they say they would have been sunbathing on the beach. Another British couple who have opted to stay have raised money for a small memorial. Pete and Heather Clifford wanted a plaque to commemorate the victims.

We ordered it yesterday and we get it tomorrow so hopefully on Tuesday we’ll present it to the management to put it on view on behalf of all the British people, the Tunisians, to show their respect.

Heather Clifford, British tourist raising money for a memorial at the Tunisia massacre site.

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