3,200 Attend Tribute March for Slain Far-Right Activist Quentin Deranque in Lyon

Approximately 3,200 people participated in a tribute march in Lyon for Quentin Deranque, a 23-year-old far-right activist killed after being beaten on February 12. The event, which featured far-right figures and hostile slogans, proceeded in relative calm despite tensions with anti-fascist activists on the sidelines.

Key points

• The march route went from Place Jean Jaurès to Rue Victor Lagrange, where Deranque was attacked.
• Organizers estimated attendance at 3,500, while the Ministry of the Interior had expected 2,000 to 3,000.
• Figures present included members of the far-right collective Némésis and Action Française, as well as Marc de Cacqueray-Valmenier.
• The victim's family did not participate and requested the event be peaceful and without political expression.
• Seven people are charged with manslaughter in Deranque's death, most linked to the far-left group Jeune Garde.

Why it matters

The event highlights the current climate of political polarization and violence in France, occurring shortly before the municipal elections in March. The incident also caused diplomatic friction between French President Emmanuel Macron and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.