Thousands of people have marched on the streets of France in support of a nationalist student who was beaten to death by a suspected ultra-left mob as he tried to protect a group of feminists.
Quentin Deranque, 23, died on February 12 after he was repeatedly kicked and punched on the ground by the masked and hooded young men, believed to be members of the ‘Antifa’ or anti-fascist movement.
His killing followed clashes between radical left and far-right supporters on the sidelines of a demonstration against a politician from the left-wing France Unbowed (LFI) party in Lyon.
The suspects now charged in connection with the attack were all affiliated with an organisation called La Jeune Garde (The Young Guard), which used to provide security for LFI before it was banned last year.
Mr Deranque’s killing has put France on edge with a 3000-strong crowd – many wearing black and some covering their faces – descending on Lyon today.
Some were carrying flowers and placards bearing pictures of Mr Deranque and placards with the words ‘justice for Quentin’ and ‘the extreme left kills’ on them.
The majority of the people that attended are believed to have been from a mixture of small traditionalist, Catholic, nationalist and far-right groups.
Quentin Deranque, 23, died on February 12 after he was repeatedly kicked and punched on the ground by masked and hooded young men
Protesters hold a banner reading ‘Justice for Quentin’ during a march in tribute to him on Saturday
An alleged video of the attack was broadcast by TF1 television
Authorities had deployed heavy security, including drones, amid fears of further clashes at the protest. French President Emmanuel Macron also urged ‘everyone to remain’ calm.
He said the government would meet next week to discuss ‘violent action groups’ in the wake of Mr Deranque’s killing, which has further ignited tensions between the left and right in France.
In particular, a torrent of condemnation has come down on the main party on the radical left, La France Insoumise (France Unbowed), which has 70 MPs in the National Assembly.
For the past 50 years, it has been accepted by most of the French political establishment that the only parties ostracised for their links to extremism lay on the far right.
This included the National Front and its successor the National Rally (RN), run by Marine Le Pen.
But the events of the past few days could turn this on its head, potentially marking a significant development ahead of France’s 2027 presidential election.
Today’s march in Lyon went ahead without violent clashes between police and protesters.
Some residents living along the route hung signs from their windows reading ‘Lyon is antifa’ or ‘Love is greater than hate’.
Authorities had deployed heavy security, including drones, amid fears of further clashes at the protest
People paid tribute to the student at the protest in Lyon on Saturday; nationalist and far-right activists were said to be among the attendees
Protesters hold a banner reading ‘The far left kills’ as they take part in a march in Lyon
Mourners first gathered in the church frequented by Mr Deranque and his portrait was hung from the administrative headquarters of the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region.
One of the rally’s organisers, Aliette Espieux, a former spokesperson for the anti-abortion movement, said she wished for a ‘peaceful tribute’.
According to the Deranque family’s lawyer, Fabien Rajon, his parents would not take part in the rally, adding they hoped would go ahead ‘without violence’ and ‘without political statements’.
Several ultra-right-wing groups, including Mr Deranque’s nationalist Allobroges Bourgoin faction, had nonetheless heavily publicised the march on social media, stoking authorities’ concerns of unrest.
Ahead of the rally, some residents barricaded the ground floor windows of their apartments in fear.
‘At my age, I’m not going to play the tough guy. If I have to go out somewhere, I’ll avoid the places where they’re marching,’ said Lyon local Jean Echeverria, 87.
‘They’ll just keep fighting each other, it’ll never end. Between the extreme of this and the extreme of that, it’s non-stop,’ he added.
People hold a banner reading ‘Goodbye mate’ as they take part in a march in Lyon
Aliette Espieux, a former spokesperson for the anti-abortion movement, takes part in a march in tribute to Mr Deranque
The event went ahead despite calls from Lyon’s left-wing green mayor, Gregory Doucet, and LFI coordinator Manuel Bompard for the state to ban it
The event went ahead despite calls from Lyon’s left-wing green mayor, Gregory Doucet, and LFI coordinator Manuel Bompard for the state to ban it.
But Interior Minister Laurent Nunez declined to call off the rally, arguing that he had to ‘strike a balance between maintaining public order and freedom of expression’.
Mr Deranque’s death has provoked a reaction from US President Donald Trump’s administration, with State Department official Sarah Rogers on Friday branding the killing ‘terrorism’ and claiming that ‘violent radical leftism is on the rise’.
That came a day after Macron pushed back at comments by Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni on the death, suggesting she refrain from commenting on France’s internal affairs.
Six men suspected of involvement in the fatal assault have been charged over the killing, while a parliamentary assistant to a radical left-wing MP has also been charged with complicity.
