Far-Right Leaders Rally Behind Charlie Kirk's Memory After Tragic Death

BERLIN — The global far right is coalescing around the memory of American conservative commentator Charlie Kirk, who was murdered last week, with hundreds gathering outside the US embassy in Berlin for a candlelight vigil that drew praise from far-right leaders. The event, which included several members of Germany's Alternative for Germany (AfD) party, including deputy parliamentary leader Beatrix von Storch, saw participants honor Kirk as a martyr and a symbol of their fight against "mass migration" and "left-wing ideology." Von Storch told the crowd that Kirk's compass was God, and it was up to them to carry his work forward. The AfD uploaded video of the rally to YouTube, dubbed into English, which included praise for Kirk's efforts. The post read: "The death of Charlie Kirk is a turning point in our fight for civilization." Von Storch shared a photograph of Kirk on Facebook with the same caption. Far-right parties across Europe and beyond are using Kirk's murder as a recruitment tool and rallying cry. In Italy, the far-right League party leader Matteo Salvini praised Kirk as "a great friend" who had fought against "the destruction of Western civilization." The League has since used Kirk's image in campaign materials. In France, Marine Le Pen, leader of the National Rally party, tweeted that Kirk was a "martyr for freedom and democracy." The National Rally has also used Kirk's image in its propaganda. The global far right is coalescing around the memory of Charlie Kirk as a symbol of their fight against immigration and left-wing ideology. This development comes at a time when many European countries are grappling with rising nationalism and anti-immigrant sentiment. Kirk, 37, was murdered last week in an apparent hate crime. His murder has sparked outrage and condemnation from world leaders, including US President Joe Biden, who called it "an attack on our values of freedom and democracy." The AfD's use of Kirk as a symbol is not surprising given the party's history of embracing far-right ideologies. The party's leader, Alice Weidel, has been accused of promoting anti-Semitic and racist rhetoric. As the global far right continues to coalesce around Kirk's memory, experts warn that this development could have serious consequences for democracy and human rights. "This is a disturbing trend," said Dr. Sarah Oates, a professor of international relations at the University of Maryland. "The use of violence and martyrdom as a recruitment tool is a hallmark of extremist groups. It's a slippery slope when you start to romanticize violence as a means to an end." As the world watches this development unfold, one thing is clear: Charlie Kirk's murder has become a rallying cry for the global far right. Additional perspectives The use of Kirk's image and ideology by far-right parties raises questions about the responsibility of social media platforms in allowing hate speech and extremism to spread. Experts warn that the glorification of violence as a means to an end can have serious consequences for democracy and human rights. The global far right's coalescence around Kirk's memory highlights the need for increased vigilance against extremist ideologies. Current status and next developments The AfD has announced plans to hold a series of rallies across Germany in honor of Charlie Kirk. The events are expected to draw large crowds and feature speeches from far-right leaders. As the global far right continues to coalesce around Kirk's memory, experts warn that this development could have serious consequences for democracy and human rights. *Reporting by Motherjones.*