Alan Berg, talk show host, was shot to death. Guess the perpetrator's politics in this and 8 other attacks on Democrats

[Doodley]

Alan Berg — Liberal talk-radio host (KOA Denver) — June 18, 1984 — Killed (shot to death) outside his Denver home. Perpetrators were members of the white-supremacist, far-right group “The Order.” (Right-leaning extremist).

Here are eight more recent attacks targeting Democrats that put the Charlie Kirk shooting in perspective. Did Democrats react by trying to turn victims into martyrs? Did they react by trying to divide the country even more?


Gabrielle “Gabby” Giffords — U.S. Representative (D-AZ-08) — January 8, 2011 — Shot in the head, severe brain injury at a constituent event in Tucson; survived but with permanent disability. Shooter Jared Lee Loughner was not formally tied to organized politics, but was influenced by far right anti-government and extremist conspiracy rhetoric (Right-leaning extremist).


Kurt Eichenwald — Journalist/commentator (Newsweek contributor) — December 15, 2016 — Suffered epileptic seizure when a Twitter user deliberately sent him a flashing GIF; perpetrator (John Rivello) was a Trump supporter who expressed right-wing motives online. (Right-leaning extremist).


CNN (media target) — Oct 22–Nov 1, 2018 — Mail bombs sent to CNN HQ and several Democrats; evacuations, no injuries. Perpetrator Cesar Sayoc was a fervent Trump supporter with far-right online presence. (Right-leaning extremist).


Gretchen Whitmer — Governor of Michigan (D) — October 2020 (plot foiled) — Foiled kidnapping/assassination plot; psychological trauma and ongoing security threats. Perpetrators were members of a far-right militia group influenced by anti-government rhetoric. (Right-leaning extremists).


Paul Pelosi — Spouse of then-Speaker Nancy Pelosi — October 28, 2022 — Bludgeoned with a hammer, fractured skull, lasting nerve damage during San Francisco home invasion. Attacker David DePape was steeped in far-right conspiracy theories (QAnon, election denial). (Right-leaning extremist).


Multiple New Mexico Democratic officials — State/local Democrats — Dec 2022–Jan 2023 — Drive-by shootings at officials’ homes/offices; no physical injuries. Organizer Solomon Peña was a failed Republican candidate, aligned with Trump election denial. (Right-leaning extremist).


Sen. John Hoffman & Yvette Hoffman — Minnesota State Senator (DFL-Champlin) & spouse — June 14, 2025 — Both shot and wounded in related attack at their home; survived. Attacker Vance Boelter was a registered Republican anti-abortionist extremist. (Right-leaning extremist).


Melissa Hortman & Mark Hortman — Minnesota House Speaker Emerita (DFL) & spouse — June 14, 2025 — Both fatally shot in Brooklyn Park home invasion. The attack was also perpetrated by Vance Boelter. (Right-leaning extremist).

[yardwork]

1. Maybe we are too silent.

Maybe Democrats need to get a lot noisier and angrier when right wingers kill us.

[Doodley]

2. Agreed. Look at how frequent attacks are since Trump came on the scene.

[Karma13612]

3. We try to change things thru legislation

but, it isn’t working.

None of it is working.

[mwmisses4289]

4. Another who agrees with you.

We are way, way past the time to be be nice and play nice. Time to get down and dirty.

[ananda]

5. Agree. Let the new guard Dems take over.

They're fighters and won't remailn silent.

[Heidi]

8. Maybe?

Definitely!

[hadEnuf]

13. Yeah, one would think so.

n/t

[Initech]

17. Right wing billionaires own and control our news.

What do we do about that?

[OldBaldy1701E]

23. They control certain news.

Like broadcast news. The internet is the best bet. They may try to own all of the servers, but they don't and they can't, to be honest.

Start new organizations that cover the news. Start getting people who don't give a shiat about these animals and are not afraid of them (Good luck with that. People are always talking, but behind anonymous tags and nicknames. I am doubtful that there are people out there who are past caring enough to take the risk. But, we sure need them.) The Democratic Party should find one that is not pulling punches and make sure they get as much of reality in their reports as they can.

But of course, (and, to use terminology from my time in electronics) it is not the sending end that is the problem. It is the receiving end. Many in this nation do not care about equality and 'the general welfare'. They care about their greed and power and ability to hurt others. Those types are not going to listen to anything, so it is kind of pointless to be worrying about their 'getting it'.

Because they won't. We need to stop with the 'play nice' and start with the same concept that they are preaching:

The complete dismantling of the GOP. They are the party of pure destruction and ego, and it is PAST time to remove them. (If they can propose doing this to our party, I can propose doing it to theirs. THAT is equality.)

[Doodley]

25. Agreed 100%

[JI7]

18. It's not that. The problem is the race issue

More specifically within the white Christian community in this country and how many view themselves and others.

The ones that tried to kill Trump and did kill Kirk were all from their own community.

They weren't even from white liberal families. But from white MAGA families but they are unable to look at themselves. They can't even just blame the white guys that committed the acts itself.

They need to somehow blame some minorities for it.

Meghan Kelly blaming Obama who left office when the shooter was like 13 years old.

[Doodley]

26. There is a lot of faux moral outrage on the right, blaming the wrong people, but on the left there is a lack of

visible outrage, and this is for all aspects of governing. Where is the outrage over healthcare cuts, for example?

[yellow dahlia]

20. Maybe those with podiums and microphones in front of them

need to use them...at all times.

[G_j]

6. link?

thanks

[malaise]

7. K & R

Important

[dalton99a]

9. Kick

[calimary]

12. Takes one to know one, donald.

Bastard.

[Doodley]

27. So, by MAGA logic, Trump should be deported.

[EdmondDantes_]

10. To a certain extent, picking the victim influences the perpetrator

Logically most people targeting Democrats would be the right wing.

You'd be better off using the total politically influenced murders as that is lopsided with right wing being responsible.

But if you're including property damage, I think that gets a lot less clear. Wouldn't you need to count people vandalizing Tesla dealers and property damage from various protests like Black Lives Matter given those are associated with left wing causes?

[yellow dahlia]

21. During BLM protests, it was the Boogaloo Boise who burned

Last edited Mon Sep 15, 2025, 10:12 PM - Edit history (1)

the Minneapolis police station (not leftists).

How much of the damage in 202 was done by instigators?

Remember the "umbrella guy" who broke windows and encouraged others to loot the store? He was a member of a white supremacist group (Aryan Cowboys).

I have always wondered how much of the damage at Tesla dealerships was instigators or "protestors".

[EdmondDantes_]

22. I don't generally believe in instagators as a large source without evidence

It would be hard in this day and age to have regular instigators given the prevalence of cameras both smartphones and security cameras. If we just chalk it up to some mysterious other without actual evidence, it isn't convincing.

[Torchlight]

39. As for example, applied to Tesla Dealerships victimized by a "mysterious other"?

"If we just chalk it up to some mysterious other without actual evidence, it isn't convincing."

[Doodley]

29. Exactly. It is in the nature of angry gun-loving, racists, bigots, and religious supremacists to have a higher

propensity to be violent, compared to those who seek more fairness in society and acceptance for all.

[yellow dahlia]

38. So obvious, right?

I feel like it is ignorant that the media and the Repugs try and create an equivalency.

[Doodley]

28. At least 75% of political attacks are carried out by right-leaning perpetrators. This list shows that

Democrats are attacked, hammered, shot, or knived together and Republicans have nothing to say. A hate-mongering racist like Charlie Kirk is killed (probably by an ultra Trumper) and Republicans use his death as a weapon against free speech, the media, and the entire Democratic Party.

[surfered]

11. Thank you . Saving this.

[Doodley]

30. You are welcome. It is a good reference if encountering somebody who tries to label Democrats as the cause of

political violence, as we are hearing in the Trump administration and media on the right.

[LeftInTX]

14. I remember the Alan Berg shooting.

On SM, they are claiming that Melissa Hortman's killer was left wing.

Seriously. it was on a local thread about a memorial for Charlie Kirk. People were posting memorial pictures for Melissa and asking "Where is her vigil" They responded, she was killed by an appointee of liberal Tim Walz. People tried to argue back, but we were drowned out.

[Doodley]

31. We are always drowned out. GOP lies always win over Dem truths. I don't know how that can change.

[FakeNoose]

15. But ... but ... but ... it's TOO SOON to talk about gun control!

Yeah, it's never the right time to talk about assault rifles. So the carnage just goes on ....

[Doodley]

32. Good point.

[Jarqui]

16. Thanks for the top post

I do not wish to take anything away from it. Really appreciate it.

I could not help myself from drifting back a couple of more decades to JFK, RFK and MLK.
Those assassinations were so devastating and bewildering for me and so many others.
It feels like it has been going on my whole life ... because it has.

[Doodley]

34. And now rhe right are effectively trying to create the narrative that they have their own MLK moment.

[Jarqui]

37. My reaction is

"what are these people thinking? Charlie Kirk is their MLK ???"

It is like we're living in a bizarre world: equating a hater who accepts some killing by guns as a acceptable price for 'his freedom' to someone who was about stressing love and peaceful, non-violent solutions to achieve racial equality (among other things)

Their premise to equate the two strikes me as delusional or insane - oblivious to the facts.
A properly function media would expose Charlie Kirk, dead or alive, for what he was and scold them for attempting to equate the two while pointing out all the Democrats who suffered political violence without the right acknowledging anything beyond "thoughts and prayers"

George Wallace got shot and paralyzed which was a terrible thing but the country and its media didn't lose sight of what he stood for.

[FakeNoose]

40. The person who killed MLK was a crazy, hateful white supremacist ...

... but the person who killed Charlie Kirk was also a crazy white supremacist.... Or so it would seem.

How are they able to blame Democrats for the death of Charlie Kirk? We're the only ones who are trying to end (or at least control) the gun violence in this country. This is pretzel logic.

[Festivito]

19. Anthrax was sent to Dem Senators and the "'Lef-ewing" media. nt

[Doodley]

35. Good point. And yet the nation is being told that Democrats are the cause of political violence.

[Crunchy Frog]

24. Let's not forget the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.

Killed 169 people, and injured 685, carried out by right wing extremists.

If the fascists are going to accuse us of shooting Charlie Kirk, we should immediately respond by accusing them of bombing the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building.

[Doodley]

33. Excellent point!

[LeftInTX]

36. And yet they turned that around a blamed it on Clinton for the raid in Waco....