The significance behind this act is sobering. In Berlin, the memorial plaques erected in honor of the homosexual movement have been damaged yet again.
The boards are located on the Magnus Hirschfeld Ufer. (Still) unknown persons have smeared them and burned out the faces depicted on them.
Actually, these plaques are meant to commemorate the first homosexual emancipation movement. This seems to be a thorn in the side of some homophobic people - not for the first time.
The State Security Service has taken up the investigation
In the course of further investigations, it will now be found out who damaged the three faces and smeared the memorial plaques.
Particularly frightening: some people seem to be so disturbed by the memorial plaque that they cannot stand the fact that it is centrally located and accordingly present in the city. Now already altogether five times (!) it came to actions of this kind. But even without fire, people have tried in the past to show their dislike for the scene by attacking the plaques in other ways.
Citizens and state security should agree on one thing: this is by no means "just" about destruction, but rather a statement directed against equality and the emancipation movement of homosexuals.
Damage of this kind must not be trivialized
Even if the commemorative plaques in question are - initially viewed quite soberly - dead objects, experience shows that such actions can also be followed by physical assaults.
Above all, the brutality (with fire) with which this was done makes one sit up and take notice.
At present, the investigation is still ongoing. However, anyone who has taken a closer look at the history of the commemorative plaques in question will know that they have been renewed time and again in the past.
Those who carried out the said vandalism should, with the reconstruction or repair, merely receive proof that it is simply not possible to make the community and its history invisible.
How tolerant is Berlin?
Berlin is generally regarded as a cosmopolitan, colorful and tolerant city. However, actions such as the vandalism of the memorial plaque show time and again that there is still a lot of room for improvement in the German capital as well.
A look at the statistics is also frightening. The number of homophobic attacks against queers is increasing. In Berlin's public prosecutor's office, a special department has even been set up to deal exclusively with this issue.
Of course, it is also particularly frightening that there is always a large number of unreported cases of homophobic assaults. Sometimes the victims are ashamed of having been overpowered, but sometimes it is also the fear of being visited again by the perpetrator if charges are filed.
Accordingly, it can be assumed that the increased figures in the statistics do not yet represent the full extent of the problem.
The police and the public prosecutor's office are therefore endeavoring to show a presence here and to represent the fact that graffiti is not just a "stupid youth prank" but - in many respects - a serious problem.
At the same time, it should also be emphasized in this context that the case of vandalism in Berlin is not an isolated incident. In the past, there have been many incidents of this kind - all over Germany.
Where can those affected find help?
Queers who have been victims of violence can find offers of help in their vicinity. A little research on the Internet usually helps to find a contact person. One thing is certain: No one needs to feel alone. The community (including the people who support them) is larger than it may often seem.
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