Four activists from Résistance à l’Agression Publicitaire Lyon, committed against the war crimes in Gaza and in support of the Palestinian liberation struggle, are being prosecuted following a subvertising action carried out in Lyon on Saturday 27 September 2025. After more than 40 hours in police custody, which ended on Monday 29 September, they have been summoned to appear before the Lyon Criminal Court (8th Chamber) on May 4th 2026 at 2pm. Let’s gather widely to support them!
These four activists were arrested by the municipal police on the evening of the protest. The decision to hold them in custody for two nights simply for covering up and replacing posters on advertising billboards is completely disproportionate.
This action was organised in the run-up to, and in solidarity with, the demands of the ‘March of the Resistance’ on 28 September 2025, an initiative which R.A.P. had joined. Twenty-four posters were put up by the activists. A dozen of these criticised advertising, its propaganda, the depletion of resources and the privatisation of public services. Another dozen posters displayed the following message: “The International Criminal Court is seeking Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on charges of war crimes and genocide”, along with other anti-colonial messages in support of the Palestinian people.
The defendants face a maximum of two years in prison and a fine of €30,000 for “group degradation”, even though no billboards were damaged.
The police and the state are acting in the interests of advertisers and the genocidal Israeli regime and its supporters by cracking down on these awareness-raising actions by activists. This disproportionate repression on a non-violent and non-disruptive action constitutes an infringement of freedom of expression. Furthermore, this comes at a time when a bill is being proposed in France that would make criticising Israel a criminal offence. We are now witnessing the outright criminalisation of critical movements, at a time of humanitarian, social and ecological crisis. Despite the exponential rise in legal proceedings against activists, let us not be intimidated by these gagging lawsuits and let us stand in solidarity! It is imperative that we do not look away in the face of such intimidation.
A gathering is planned on May 4th, the day of the trial – let’s show up. We look forward to seeing you there:
- 12.30 pm: Place Guichard for a rally in support of the cause, featuring public speeches
- 1.45 pm: departure for the court ahead of the hearing (at 2 pm at 67 Rue Servient)
At the same time, an international counter-advertising conference will take place the weekend before the trial, on 2nd and 3rd May in Villeurbanne. A festive evening will be held on Saturday 2nd May at the bar Le Court-Circuit, 13 Rue Jangot (Lyon 7) to bring together as many supporters as possible in a friendly atmosphere and to raise funds for the four defendants, for those who are able to contribute.
Signatories:
Action Justice Climat Lyon
Agir pour la Palestine
ATTAC Rhône
Boycott for Palestine
Collectif Palestine Villefranche
Confédération Nationale du Travail – UD 69
Extinction Rebellion Lyon
Faucheuses Faucheurs volontaires d’OGM 69/42
GreenPeace Lyon
Indignons-nous Bloquons tout Lyon
L’Union Étudiante Lyon
La Fosse aux Lyons
Les Amis de la Terre Rhône
Lyon Antifa
Masse Critique 69
Mouvement Kanaky France Lyon
Mouvement pour une Alternative Non-violente Lyon
Nous toutes Rhône
Tsedek! Collectif juif décolonial
Résistance à l’Agression Publicitaire
Soulèvements de la Terre Lyon
Unéf Lyon – le syndicat étudiant
Union Communiste Libertaire Lyon
Urgence Palestine Lyon
Waves of Freedom France
Young Struggle Lyon
