Uncompromising Radicalism - Memorial Service for Slain CDU Politician Recognized
During a memorial gathering at the Kassel Martin Church, about a thousand guests gathered to remember slain CDU politician Walter Lübcke, assassinated by a right-wing extremist five years prior. Among them was Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who honored Lübcke, a former Kassel government leader, by acknowledging his integrity as a Democrat and his unwavering dedication. "We were all hoping that Walter Lübcke would carry on being what he was until June 2nd, 2019: a morally upright Democrat who took responsibility. A politician who strove for change, a curious and thoughtful fellow human being. A hero," Steinmeier said.
The politician's unyielding stance as a Democrat led to his death. Steinmeier characterized the murder as a right-wing extremist terrorist act. "Walter Lübcke was taken from us, among us, on June 2, 2019. The attack targeted him, but essentially, it targeted us as a society. After all, he died because he defended our defining societal values." Thus, this murder wasn't just about him but the impact on all of us. Still, Steinmeier stressed, "This event will never leave us at peace."
At the Service, Steinmeier urged unity in the fight against right-wing extremism, this isn't something that will go away by itself. "Everyday, we witness attempts to distort decency and the shared understanding of society with words. And far too often, these attempts succeed." The dreadful repercussion - physical aggression. In light of this, Steinmeier expressed his concern, "Especially in recent times, we read and hear on a frequent basis about engaged people and office holders being physically assaulted. We must not accept violence in political squabbles."
To counteract this, Steinmeier called for resistance whenever hatred surfaces. "The requirement to oppose hatred stems from the responsibility we all shoulder." He believed that the majority in this country backs democratic values, said the Federal President.
The remembrance event was organized by the Evangelical Parish Kassel-Mitte, the Kassel Government Presidium, and the diversity-promoting initiative "Open for Diversity." Family members of NSU terror cell victims in Kassel were amongst the attendees, as were various politicians, including Hesse's Prime Minister Boris Rhein (CDU). Lübcke's killing occurred on June 2nd, 2019, when right-wing extremist Stephan E. shot him point-blank on his terrace in Wolfhagen-Istha. The rationale - the disapproval of Lübcke's pro-asylum policy stance. The perpetrator is now in prison serving a life sentence. This murder marked the first politically inspired killing of a federal German policymaker by a neo-Nazi.
