thousands of people gather in Châteauroux for a white march

Matisse’s parents stood at the head of the procession, behind a banner bearing the image of their son, who died after receiving several stab wounds during a fight.

Nearly 8,000 people took part, on Saturday May 4, in Châteauroux, in a white march in tribute to young Matisse, 15, killed by a teenager of the same age on April 27. The event was held at the request of the family, who refuses any political recovery. Under a clearing, Place La Fayette in the city center was packed with people, with, among the many people present, elected officials, carrying white or pink roses. Some people wore t-shirts with otters, a reference to Matisse’s nickname given by his father Christophe Marchais.

Matisse’s parents stood at the head of the procession, silent, behind a banner bearing the image of their son. The businesses were almost all closed and many had a photo of the teenager or an otter in their window. The need to do “something” has become essential for Châteauroux catering professionals, explains Delphine Chambonneau, owner of a tea room in the city center. Matisse was an apprentice cook at the CFA de l’Indre and his father owns a restaurant.

Despite the call from Matisse’s father in particular to guard against any political exploitation, a small ultra-right group displayed banners in front of the town hall on Friday evening. According to the prefect of Indre, Thibault Lanxade, the operation was “very fast”. “There were around ten of them. They unfurled their banners and left”. The action was claimed by the small group Animus Fortis on his account.

Several stab wounds during a “brawl”

The teenager died from his injuries on April 27, after receiving several stab wounds during a “brawl” occurred in the Saint-Denis district, according to the public prosecutor of Bourges. His alleged attacker was indicted Monday evening for “murder” and placed in pre-trial detention, and his mother, aged 37 and suspected of having “slapped the victim” injured, was indicted for “intentional violence against vulnerable people.

Matisse’s murder comes after a new wave of violence between young people and in the middle of the campaign for the European elections. In this context, the Afghan nationality of the two indicted (regularly in France) has led several figures from the right and the extreme right to denounce the “migratory policy” of the government. For several days, Christophe Marchais has continued to warn: “Let’s not mix everything up. Pay attention to all the right-wing parties or elsewhere who appropriate this kind of thing”he declared on RTL.