The violent rhetoric of a climate demonstration held in Berlin on Saturday, September 20th, has led to a request for a parliamentary inquiry, at the initiative of Alternative für Deutschland (AfD) MP Markus Matzerath.
During the protest, organized by ‘Fridays for Future,’ calls for violence—including incitement to murder—were openly displayed and, alarmingly, echoed by prominent figures. One protester brandished a sign reading ‘BURN THE OLD WHITE MEN,’ in a stark example of the radical tone permeating the event.
The rally, held under the slogan “Exit Gas—Enter Future!” attracted environmental activists, Green Party supporters, and elements of the left-wing extremist scene. Notably, Jakob Blasel, head of the German Green Youth, was among those promoting the event, which has since seen widespread sharing of photos and videos across Green Party channels. In one of the videos, posted by Blasel on Instagram, the sign calling for murder is clearly visible in the front row of the demonstration—yet neither the Green Party supporters participating in the demonstration nor the ones sharing it on social media have appeared to take offense.
In a post on X, AfD MP Markus Matzerath asks whether “the calls for murder” were known to the Federal Office for the Protection of the Constitution and adds,
Numerous Green Party politicians, Green Youth officials and state associations, as well as Bundestag member Max Lucks, liked Blasel’s post. They honored the call for murder with a heart for “Like”.
The initial text of paragraph 130 of the German Criminal Code (incitement to hatred) states:
Whoever, in a manner capable of disturbing the public peace, incites hatred against segments of the population or calls for violent or arbitrary measures against them; or assaults the human dignity of others by insulting, maliciously maligning, or defaming segments of the population, shall be punished with imprisonment from three months to five years. The same applies to anyone who publicly or in an assembly, disseminates material or makes it available to the public, that incites hatred or violates human dignity as described above.
Asked by news outlet Nius why they had failed to intervene, Berlin police stated that they would not take action against the call for violence and referred to a prior court ruling determining that “old white men” does not represent a national or ethnic group. However, this decision did not concern a call for murder, but rather the phrase “Old white men stink,” which the court classified as a vulgar but permissible slur. When pressed by Nius on whether murder slogans represented a more drastic case, the police spokesman said the matter would be reviewed again.
The Green Party’s acceptance and promotion of radical left-wing rhetoric is cause for serious concern. Green Youth spokesperson Jette Nietzard has previously made alarming remarks, suggesting that political violence could be seen as legitimate should AfD come to power.
Political violence in Germany has seen a dramatic rise, with 2,210 criminal offenses targeting members of Bundestag parties recorded in the first half of 2025—a 165% increase compared to the previous six months. While words are not violence, and freedom of speech should be the right of citizens of a free society, the German criminal code, frequently used against right-wing personalities and politicians as well as irate pensioners, appears to be conveniently ignored when it’s the Left doing the insulting.
