dChan - Q Origins Project Archive

Anonymous ID: 8aa3e2 Sept. 10, 2025, 7:59 p.m. No.23577496 🗄️.is 🔗kun >>7499

>>23577383

Grok fail

Are there any past political commentators with a presence / following like Charlie Kirk that assassinated

George Lincoln Rockwell (1918–1967)**
Profile Founder of the American Nazi Party, Rockwell was a highly controversial figure known for his outspoken white supremacist and anti-Semitic views. He gained a following through public speeches, rallies, and media appearances, including interviews in mainstream outlets like Playboy. While his following was smaller than Kirk’s in absolute terms (due to the era’s lack of social media), he was a prominent and polarizing voice in the 1960s, attracting both devoted supporters and intense opposition.
Assassination**: Rockwell was shot and killed on August 25, 1967, by John Patler, a former member of his own organization, in Arlington, Virginia, while leaving a laundromat. The motive was linked to internal disputes and Patler’s expulsion from the group.
Comparison to Kirk**: Like Kirk, Rockwell used provocative rhetoric and targeted younger audiences (e.g., through campus outreach). His assassination was tied to his political activities, though it stemmed from an internal conflict rather than broader political opposition. His influence, while niche, was significant within far-right circles, akin to Kirk’s role in conservative youth movements.

2. Alan Berg (1934–1984)

Profile**: A liberal radio talk show host in Denver, Colorado, Berg was known for his confrontational style on KOA radio, where he debated controversial issues like gun control, abortion, and race. His show attracted a large regional audience, and he was a prominent voice in the 1980s, often clashing with white supremacists and other far-right groups. His outspokenness made him a target for extremist backlash.
Assassination**: On June 18, 1984, Berg was gunned down outside his home by members of The Order, a white supremacist group, who targeted him for his liberal views and Jewish background. The group was motivated by Berg’s public criticism of their ideologies on air.
Comparison to Kirk: Berg’s radio platform and polarizing style parallel Kirk’s media presence through The Charlie Kirk Show. Both engaged in culture war debates and faced hostility for their views. Berg’s assassination was explicitly tied to his public commentary, similar to how Kirk’s death was labeled a “political assassination” by some sources.

Meir Kahane (1932–1990)**
Profile**: A rabbi and far-right activist, Kahane founded the Jewish Defense League (JDL) in the U.S. and later the Kach party in Israel. Known for his militant Zionist views and anti-Arab rhetoric, he gained a following through writings, speeches, and media appearances, particularly among Jewish nationalists. His provocative stances made him a polarizing figure with a dedicated audience, though smaller than Kirk’s due to the pre-digital era.
Assassination**: Kahane was shot and killed on November 5, 1990, in New York City by El Sayyid Nosair, an Egyptian-American linked to early Islamist networks, after a speech. The assassination was motivated by Kahane’s anti-Arab activism and his calls for the expulsion of Arabs from Israel.
Comparison to Kirk**: Kahane’s ability to mobilize supporters through media and public events resembles Kirk’s campus tours and social media outreach. Both were divisive figures whose assassinations were linked to their political stances, though Kahane’s following was more niche compared to Kirk’s mainstream conservative audience.

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>>23577496

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Key Observations and Limitations

Context of Political Violence**: Each case reflects a period of heightened political tension, similar to the current climate described in sources about Kirk’s assassination (e.g.,,). Assassinations often stem from ideological conflicts, as seen with Berg and Kahane, or internal disputes, as with Rockwell.
Motive and Impact**: Unlike Kirk’s case, where the shooter’s motive remains unclear (as of September 10, 2025), the assassinations of Rockwell, Berg, and Kahane had identifiable ideological or personal motives tied to their public personas. Kirk’s death, labeled a “political assassination” by Utah’s governor (), fits a pattern of rising political violence, but the lack of a known motive limits precise parallels.

Why Few Direct Parallels Exist

Unique Media Landscape**: Kirk’s influence through social media (5.3 million X followers, 500,000–750,000 daily podcast downloads) and his role in mainstream conservative politics are products of the modern era. Earlier commentators like Rockwell, Berg, or Kahane operated in pre-digital contexts, with followings built through radio, print, or in-person events, making their reach smaller but still impactful for their time.
Targeted Violence**: Most assassinated political figures in U.S. history (e.g., Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King Jr., Robert F. Kennedy) were politicians or civil rights leaders, not primarily commentators or media figures. Commentators with large followings are less frequently targeted, possibly because their influence, while significant, is less direct than that of elected officials or movement leaders.
Data Gaps**: The sources provided focus heavily on Kirk’s assassination and recent political violence (e.g.,,), with limited mention of historical commentators. My knowledge, while extensive, may miss obscure cases from earlier eras due to the focus on recent events

Conclusion

George Lincoln Rockwell, Alan Berg, and Meir Kahane are the closest historical examples of political commentators or activists with significant followings who were assassinated, each due to their provocative public personas. Their influence, while notable in their respective contexts, was less widespread than Kirk’s due to the limitations of pre-digital media. No exact equivalent to Kirk—a young, mainstream conservative with a massive digital platform—appears in the historical record as an assassination victim. The rarity of such events underscores the exceptional nature of Kirk’s case in the context of modern political violence. If you’d like, I can search for additional historical cases or analyze specific aspects of these examples further.