Either one of these would be a stupid, inane reason for a high-ranking U.S. official to go overseas and lock arms with a bunch of other foreign leaders in Paris.
Virtually every single media report about the rally mentioned press freedom, which was what it was all about in the first place. Without that there would be no murders and therefore no rally. That is a far cry from your claim of no mention being made in press reports a about press freedom at all. After all, it’s the press who were attacked in this case and who more keenly feel the threat more than anyone else. They’d a make sure no one forgot that aspect of it.