Humanity wins in France as brave Parisians open their doors to strangers

With the hashtag #PorteOuverte Parisians advertise ‘open doors’ for those stranded by terror attacks.

Meaning that French humanity and compassion rapidly raised its head in the midst of the horror that took place last night in the French capital.

A mere moments after the terrorist attacks struck, the Twitter hashtah #porteouverte was launched. It quite literally means 'open door' and was intended for anyone stranded on the streets or unable to reach their hotels because of the atrocities. With emergency response to the terror attacks in Paris shutting down public transportation, Parisians responded by taking stranded people into their homes and advertising safe havens on social media using the hashtag #PorteOuverte. "If you are in Paris and you need shelter, find someone using the hastag 'PorteOuverte'. People are offering shelter. Stay safe!" one account tweeted. Another, said simply "For people in Paris: the hashtag #PorteOuverte on twitter is filled with people ready to welcome you for the night if you are in the streets/can't go back to where you're staying. Contact them, DO NOT STAY OUT. Stay safe."

In another telling display of kindness, the taxi drivers of Paris have also switched off their meters tonight. With the city placed under curfew for the first time since 1944 and the majority of the Paris Metro suspended, it has also offered a vital lifeline for thousands stranded in the French capital.

Social media became a platform for people from all over the world expressing their compassion and sympathy for the people of France, while condemning the people behind the atrocities. "Every time something awful like this happens the human spirit always prevails," @bradleygbooth tweeted alongside the hashtag #PorteOuverte. "This is why terrorists will never win." We could not agree more. In the words of Martin Luther King Jr. himself: "Darkness can not drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate can not drive out hate; only love can do that."

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