"Demonstrators took to the streets of Rome on Saturday to demand justice for the late French right-wing political activist, Quentin Deranque, who was beaten to death last week during a protest. Footage shows crowds marching through the city under heavy police surveillance, carrying banners, portraits of Deranque as well as French and Italian flags. Protesters held up signs reading 'stop political violence' and 'justice for Quentin.' "Quentin was a young man, he was one of us. He had a life ahead of him, he had dreams, he didn't smash shop windows in the square, Quentin didn't attack people," said one protester. "Quentin intervened to defend women from the right-wing Nemesis," he continued. "Quentin was chased, thrown to the ground, surrounded, struck, and even when he was... even when he had fainted and lost consciousness, they continued to savage him." One protester urged the crowd not to "underestimate the climate of political hatred spreading in Italy". "We must not underestimate certain images we have seen not only in France - where he was killed - but also in Italy. When, after a demonstration like in Askatasuna, a policeman is surrounded, beaten, thrown to the ground, and even attacked with hammers," he stated. Former prime minister Matteo Renzi's Italia Viva party joined the rally. The party strongly condemned Deranque's killing, saying political blood 'has no colour' and describing the incident as 'an attack on democracy itself.' Italia Viva called for the protection of the rule of law, swift justice and a firm response from both the Italian government and the European Union against the use of violence by political groups. Quentin Deranque, a 23-year-old French right-wing activist, died on Saturday from injuries sustained in an attack in Lyon on February 12 during a political demonstration. Video of the incident showed him being beaten while on the ground. Police launched a homicide investigation and arrested several suspects, including a parliamentary aide linked to an LFI lawmaker. No official judicial conclusions regarding responsibility had been announced at the time of publication. LFI leaders claimed the movement had been targeted and insisted it bore 'no responsibility' for the fatal assault in Lyon."