Pens in moment of silence

[carnivorousplant]

What is the significance of holding a pen or pencil during the minute of silence observed for the people killed in France?
NPR story and photographs.

[Ethilrist]

The people who were killed were artists.

[carnivorousplant]

Thank you.

[Sir_T-Cups]

Specifically cartoonists from a magazine, where one would use a pen vs a paintbrush/spray paint/etc.

[Peremensoe]

Also, “the pen,” metaphorically, means the press, free expression of ideas, etc. As contrasted with “the sword,” violence.

[74westy]

Might be pushing it but PEN is also the name of an organization.

PEN International (known as International PEN until 2010)[1] is a worldwide association of writers, founded in London in 1921[2] to promote friendship and intellectual co-operation among writers everywhere. The association has autonomous International PEN centers in over 100 countries.

Other goals included: to emphasise the role of literature in the development of mutual understanding and world culture; to fight for freedom of expression; and to act as a powerful voice on behalf of writers harassed, imprisoned and sometimes killed for their views.

[Bam_Boo_Gut]

I’m going with ‘The pen is mightier than the sword’

The pen is mightier than the sword

[Ike_Witt]

NM