John Kerry Defends Absence From Unity Rally, Schedules France Visit

John Kerry defended his absence from the unity rally against terrorism in Paris on Sunday. Kerry said he plans to leave for France on Thursday.

At least 3.7 million people attended the rally, including 40 world leaders. The event was meant to show solidarity against the Paris terror attacks that happened last week. However, the President, Secretary of State, and Attorney General (who was in the country at the time) of the United States failed to join the march.

“The U.S. has been deeply engaged with the people of France since this incident occurred,” John Kerry said in defense to his absence from the unity rally.

Kerry added, “This is sort of quibbling a little bit in the sense that our assistant Secretary of State Victoria Nuland was there and marched, our ambassador was there and marched, many people from the embassy were there and marched.”

The Secretary of State made these comments to reporters from India. He was attending an entrepreneurship summit with new Prime Minister Narendra Modi. The U.S. is trying to develop closer trade ties with India.

Kerry said he wanted to be in France, but he had this prior commitment. “But this is why I am going there on the way home, to make it crystal clear how passionately we feel about the events that have taken place there.”

French President Francois Hollande defended President Obama, saying he has been very active with the country since the attacks.

Attorney General Eric Holder was at a security summit on combating terrorism in Paris on Sunday.

The world leaders who did attend the rally against terrorism included British Prime Minister David Cameron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, and Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov.

Critiques have pointed out that the U.S. failed to stand behind ideological allies in one of the most important public demonstrations in Europe for decades.

However, the White House announced on Sunday that it will host a summit on Feb. 18 aimed at countering violent extremism both domestically and internationally.

John Kerry also defended his absence at the unity rally by saying, “I don’t think the people of France have any doubt about America’s understanding about what happened, about our personal sense of loss, and our deep commitment to the people of France in this moment of trial.”

[Photo Credit: Ryan Rowley]

John Kerry Defends Absence From Unity Rally, Schedules France Visit