PORTAGE PARK — The special edition of the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo published after a terrorist attack on its office Jan. 7 that killed 12 people sold out instantaneously Friday morning at a Chicago newstand.
City Newsstand and Cafe owner Joe Angelastri said a line of more than 50 people snaked down the block waiting for the newsstand at 4018 N. Cicero Ave. to open at 7 a.m., hoping to snag one of just six copies of the memorial edition the newsstand received.
City Newsstand was the only place in the city to buy the magazine, known for depicting the Prophet Muhammad, considered blasphemous by some Muslims.
Heather Cherone says people were thanking Angelastri:
However, those who missed out were able to preorder one of the "several hundred" copies the newsstand expects to receive next Friday, Angelastri said. The issues cost $7.50.
"It felt good to see this kind of demand for a magazine," Angelastri said. "People were thanking us for not being afraid to sell it."
Jefferson Park Police District Cmdr. Roger Bay stopped by the newsstand earlier this week, and urged Angelastri to reach out to him directly with concerns that the newsstand could be the focus on protests or violence, the newsstand owner said.
"There was no problem this morning," Angelastri said.
Armed gunmen stormed the magazine's offices in Paris and killed 12 people Jan. 7 in an attack that officials said was prompted by the humor magazine's frequent depictions of Muhammad.
The cover by cartoonist Luz, who survived the attack, shows a crying Muhammad holding a sign reading "Je suis Charlie," the slogan adopted by supporters of free speech and expression horrified by the carnage. Above the cartoon are the words "Tout est pardonne" or "All is forgiven."
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