Published on: 02/21/2026 - 08:35 Modified on: 02/21/2026 - 21:35
The march ended in Lyon in tribute to nationalist activist Quentin Deranque, beaten to death by ultra-left activists, while other rallies were also organized in several cities in France. Emmanuel Macron called “everyone to calm down” and announced a meeting on “violent action groups”. The prefect of Rhône, Fabienne Buccio, clarified that no incident would be tolerated in Lyon. Find the thread from February 21.
This live is now over, thank you for following it.
The Rhône prefecture will issue a report for racist insults and Nazi salutes
The gathering, which was held under a heavy police presence, was punctuated by a few slight clashes with local residents. Chants like “We’re at home!” were also chanted by demonstrators.
The Rhône prefecture declared that it would issue a report to the public prosecutor for several facts, in particular for racist insults and Nazi salutes.
These gestures and declarations were spotted on videos of the march, posted online on social networks, said a spokesperson for the prefecture.
“In accordance with the instructions of the Minister of the Interior”, prefect Fabienne Buccio will report “to the public prosecutor all reprehensible gestures and remarks” detected, he added.
An “episode of tensions” between demonstrators and anti-fascists but “no clashes”
People hold lit torches during the march in tribute to Quentin Deranque, February 21, 2026.
REUTERS/Nicolas Economou
Is political violence increasing in France?
On the set of France 24 Antoine Marie, researcher at Cevipof, returned to the historical trends of political violence in France.
The procession arrived at rue Victor Lagrange, paying tribute to Quentin Deranque
The demonstrators arrived at the end of the route, rue Victor Lagrange, in the 7th arrondissement of Lyon, where the young nationalist activist Quentin Deranque was beaten, which led to his death.
A tribute was paid to him by the crowd, some demonstrators lit torches and gathered in front of a banner reading “Farewell, comrade”.
Protesters hold a banner reading "The far left kills" during a march in tribute to Quentin Deranque, in Lyon, France, February 21, 2026. REUTERS/Nicolas Economou
Tribute march or political march?
In the crowd, no organizational flag or acronym, but discreet symbols of the ultra-right, and above all very political speeches against LFI, "leftism" or "anti-fascist violence".
Tribute to Quentin Deranque: 3,200 participants in Lyon (prefecture)
Around 3,200 people are participating in Lyon in the tribute to the young radical far-right activist Quentin Deranque, beaten to death by members of the ultra-left, estimated the Rhône prefecture.
Domitille Casarotto, one of the organizers, estimated the participation at 3,500 people.
Aliette Espieux, co-organizer of the demonstration, holds a banner with other participants during a march in tribute to Quentin Deranque, a young far-right activist beaten to death during a violent attack perpetrated by far-left activists, in Lyon, France, February 21, 2026. REUTERS/Nicolas Economou
In the procession several masked faces
Among those gathered, many men dressed in dark, faces covered by surgical masks, neck gaiters pulled up over their noses.
Voluntarily hiding one's face in order not to be identified during a demonstration is punishable by a fine of 1,500 euros.
Many political slogans chanted
“The far left kills”, “LFI complicit, anti-fa assassins” or even “Young guard in prison, free the city of Lyon”.
The procession sets off in Lyon in tribute to far-right activist Quentin Deranque
Many portraits of Quentin Deranque are brandished by the crowd.
The procession delayed due to speaking
The number of speeches is increasing in tribute to Quentin Deranque delaying the departure of the procession initially scheduled for 3:30 p.m.
“Your death takes on a mystical dimension that will make you part of the legend,” says Baptiste, a close friend of Quentin Deranque according to La Tribune Lyon.
The Nemesis collective at the forefront of the march
Activists from the femonationalist collective Némésis are present at the march for Quentin Deranque, carrying portraits of the victim bearing the slogan "Killed by Mélenchon's militia".
Alice Cordier, third from left, French far-right activist and president of the identity group Collectif Némésis, takes part in a march in Lyon, France, Saturday, February 21, 2026, to pay tribute to Quentin Deranque. (AP Photo/Laurent Cipriani)
Several small ultra-right groups present at the march
The call to demonstrate was widely relayed on social networks by small ultra-right groups: the “national-revolutionaries” Allobroges Bourgoin, of which Quentin Deranque was a member, the identitarians of Héritage Lyon and the feminist collective Némésis, the “national-identitarians” of Audace Lyon and the monarchist and anti-republican nationalists of Action Française.
Before the departure of the procession, a tribute to Quentin Deranque was paid in the traditionalist Saint-Georges church, whose services are said in Latin and which the young man attended.
A police officer checks a person before the start of a march in tribute to Quentin Deranque, a young far-right activist beaten to death during a violent attack perpetrated by far-left activists, in Lyon, France, February 21, 2026. REUTERS/Nicolas Economou
Start of the march in Lyon in tribute to far-right activist Quentin Deranque
Calm atmosphere at Place Jean-Jaurès, in Lyon, before the start of the march
With AFP and Reuters
Keywords associated with the article
The content you are trying to access does not exist or is no longer available.
