Selective Empathy on the German Left

When political youth organizations in Germany preach about combating hatred, the courtesy rarely extends to their ideological opponents. The Münster chapter of Linksjugend, the youth organization of the Left Party, provided a vivid illustration of this double standard by publicly mocking the one-year anniversary of a political murder. On social media, the radical activists marked the assassination of American conservative commentator Charlie Kirk with celebratory posts, declaring with satisfaction that the deceased had not said anything transphobic for a full year.

The digital campaign featured graphics celebrating an absolute "Kirkaversary" alongside imagery of Kirk outfitted with pronoun buttons and a trans flag. Kirk, a prominent Republican figure and co-founder of Turning Point USA, was shot dead on September 10, 2025, during an open debate event in Orem, Utah. His attacker, Tyler Robinson, later admitted to the killing on Discord, claiming he acted because Kirk was allegedly spreading hate. Robinson currently faces seven charges, with US prosecutors seeking the death penalty in a case scheduled for a procedural hearing on October 23.

This ghoulish celebration in Münster is not an isolated breach of decency, but part of a broader trend within German political commentary. Following the assassination, public-broadcaster personality Sebastian Hotz, operating under the alias "El Hotzo," published derogatory comments on X comparing the murdered activist to a primate. The fallout reached Washington, where US Deputy Secretary of State Christopher Landau suggested that foreign figures celebrating domestic political violence could face visa revocations.

The incident highlights a curious hypocrisy in German political culture. While state institutions and party functionaries endlessly warn against verbal radicalization, open cheerleading for political violence on the radical left is treated as a minor transgression. When the death of an opponent is celebrated as an ideological victory, one has to ask what remains of democratic political norms.

Written by Thorben Thiede thorben.thiede@alpineweekly.com