Someone In Berlin Came Up With A Creative Way To Fight Swastikas That Started Appearing On The Streets

Like the protestors in the 60’s putting flowers in the barrels of guns, some people know that the best way to fight against hate is with love, beauty and creativity.

Ibo Omari is one of those people. Through his NGO Die kulturellen Erben (The Cultural Heritage) he started Paintback, a campaign to turn hateful symbols and slogans on the streets into something fun and artistic.

Based in Berlin, Germany, the Paintback concept has so far covered up several swastikas around the streets of the city, as far-right groups in Germany begin to show signs of increased activity. Using simple designs and templates, the graffiti artists involved in Paintback hope to inspire others to respond to ugly hate messages in their cities, and make something beautiful out of them. Via a short video shared on social media, which went viral in Germany, the campaign has quickly spread to other cities in the country and beyond with others posting their own swastika alterations under the hashtag #Paintback.

Scroll down below to see some of the examples of Paintback at work, be inspired, and don’t forget to vote for your favourite!