The Rhône prefecture has authorized the homage march for Quentin Deranque, a 23-year-old nationalist militant who died on February 12 after an assault by ultraleft militants in Lyon. The gathering, scheduled for Saturday in the 7th arrondissement, will be secured by over 500 police to prevent disruptions. The victim's family calls for calm and no political expression.
Quentin Deranque, a 23-year-old Catholic nationalist militant, died on February 12, 2026, in Lyon from injuries sustained in a lynching during a protest against a conference by LFI MEP Rima Hassan at Sciences Po Lyon. The clash involved nationalist militants, including Deranque, and antifascist activists. Seven suspects were charged on Thursday: six with 'voluntary homicide' and one, Jacques-Élie Favrot, an aide to LFI deputy Raphaël Arnault, with 'complicity by instigation'. Three admitted affiliation with the ultraleft movement linked to the Jeune Garde groupuscule co-founded by Arnault.
The homage march, filed by Aliette Espieux of the Marche pour la vie, will start at 3 p.m. from Place Jean-Jaurès, covering 1.4 km in the 7th arrondissement to Rue Victor Lagrange, the site of the incident. Authorized by the prefecture, it will be secured by a 'high-level' deployment including local forces, CRS 83, mobile gendarmerie squadrons, and regional reinforcements, totaling over 500 officers. Two drones will monitor the route, and orders ban demonstrations in several areas, including the slopes of La Croix-Rousse.
Quentin Deranque's family called 'for calm and restraint', hoping the march remains peaceful without political expression, and will not attend. Interior Minister Laurent Nuñez described the events as a 'brawl' ending in 'voluntary homicide' and an 'abominable lynching', expecting 2,000 to 3,000 participants, including far-right militants. Similar gatherings are planned elsewhere, such as in Nice where 200 people assembled on Friday.
Politically, the Trump administration denounced the rise of 'violent left-wing extremism' and its role in Deranque's death. Giorgia Meloni expressed solidarity, criticized by Emmanuel Macron as 'interference'. Jordan Bardella advised RN cadres not to participate, while PS leader Olivier Faure urged LFI to conduct a 'self-examination'.
