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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!
This post may include affiliate links.
#1
Nadine Ducca 7 years ago
Does anyone else think it's really funny that they censored the swastika in the first photo?
Nadine Ducca 7 years ago
Okay, I just read the explanations in the comments section. I see! Thanks for informing us uninformed! :-)
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未周 陸 7 years ago
But, Egyptians weren't that nice to Hebrew people, either. So, "Walk Away Like an Egyptian"?! LOL
mp3 7 years ago
just FYI, white european jews are not related to ancient hebrews and real meaning of the swastika has been corrupted in stages throughout the centuries - on purpose
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A soft kitten 7 years ago
(This is a troll who posts a lot of other nazi b******t. Check their page.)
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RELATED:
#2
jp 7 years ago
reminds me of the tokopedia logo, very creative and awesome on the transformation tho toped-5a5c...e39653.jpg 
Alyson Sylva 7 years ago
It's amazing how the artist has the EXACT same color with the same amount of weathering as the original
Ladies and Gentlemen 7 years ago
Now, that's what you call a Contrast! Amazing. Though i dont understand a bit! But for sake of comment let' say its awesome.
Charlotte Brine 7 years ago
What is not to understand...? Its turning a symbol that has become known the world over for a symbol of hate and turning it into something that erases all connection to the original image and will undoubtedly bring a smile to the faces of passers by!
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#3
Jimmy Dolderer 7 years ago
Boneheads! The skinhead culture comes from Jamaica. E.x Symarip.
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Cheryl Thomas 7 years ago
I thought the "Paintback" idea was to incorporate the original lines in the revised version. I don't see that this was done here - some of the lines in the original swastika are completely missing from the revision.
#4
Cheryl Thomas 7 years ago
The butterfly is a cute idea, but the supposedly original lines of the swastika in the painted over version are nothing like the actual originals. This doesn't look at all like a "Paintback".
omas bioladen 7 years ago
svastikas would be me so much more beautiful for indigenious germanic people than tnis ni99ershit.
#5
Robert Buxwin 7 years ago
Even Windows ME and Windows Vista are better than Nazis
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Nelly Panda 7 years ago
They covered it up with a window with a cat looking out the window
Load More Replies... omas bioladen 7 years ago
someone is roaming berlin tagging colourful svasikas all over the city? LMFAO! Only stupid leftist ni99erfuckers would believe such a bollocks.
#6
Miss MonMon 7 years ago
Why is there a black box on all the swastika's? Are you f*****g serious? Hahaha.
#7
#8
arg 7 years ago
Reminds me of this art book .. I wonder if burne Hogarth also painted over a swastika. 516xVoz5sd...861ade.jpg 
N G 7 years ago
Yes, swastika man was a popular superhero in 1930's Germany
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#9
Robert Buxwin 7 years ago
234 156 789 657 398 142 891 247 356 162 435 897 345 789 621 789 612 534 478 963 215 913 527 468 526 841 973
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John Louis 7 years ago
I doubt that any of these neo-nazi's are smart enough to solve a Sudoku puzzle that has only four squares.
omas bioladen 7 years ago
1 and 8 means A and H for Adolf Hitler. With the 8 in the center and the svastika on top right still visible this is really a nice drawig.
#10
Paul K. Johnson 7 years ago
Have you learned nothing from this thread??? You solve it with a paintbrush. :D
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Tiny Dynamine 7 years ago
This is weird because the artist practically ignored the original lines.
Tiny Dynamine 7 years ago
You can see the original through the paint and the lines don't match up at all.
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Willow 7 years ago
Yeah I don't get the blocking out either... artist does a better job with the paint! :D
Nicole Holt 7 years ago
It's blocked out, because it's actually illegal in Germany to show them unless it's for movies/documentaries.
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Ryan Erickson 7 years ago
To answer this, swastikas are illegal in Germany (as they should be), thus I'm sure they are taking the proper precautions to avoid taking photos of an illegal sign.
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#12
Bored Fox 7 years ago
Most of these look more like hindu swastikas because the nazi swastika should be always rotated 45 degrees.
Cesi Baca 7 years ago
They’re too dumb to realize it. It’s like the wanna b Nazis here in the US. They forget (sorry, too dumb to realize) that Hitler had plans to invade the US.
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Phill Hewitt 7 years ago
was in Berlin 2 weeks ago ,the tagging was awful , on just about every wall
Alex Wills 7 years ago
Have we really come to the point where articles like this have to sensor a picture of a swastika? What happens with war movies and the like? Will all the planes and flags have to have the swastika's blurred out? Talk about Voldemort effect!
Sunita Gupta 7 years ago
Swastikas!! Do you have any idea about word "swastika". Do you see and understand any difference between "swastika" AND "THE SYMBOL" USED by HITLER!! HITLER had wrong intention but that does not mean to malign the HOLY symbol "SWASTIKA". If people are really concerned about LOVE and peace then approach matters with discretion. Swastika is a symbol which we Hindu make in our home, during our prayers, to ward off evil intentions. Bad people use god name to curse others, they use medical science for selfish purposes. So shall we abandon calling god name, abandon medical practises?
Aunt Messy 7 years ago
No, dear. Nazis are stupid. Very, very stupid. Do try to keep up.
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What do you think ?
TropicalPanda 7 years ago
As an Indian this makes me sad... wanna elaborate on my feelings but guess they are pretty obvious..
Richard Hess 7 years ago
For what it's worth, I'm sorry s**t stains from Europe appropriated a symbol from your religion and turned it in to racist filth.
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Hayley Lightcap 7 years ago
I can just imagine the artist walking down the street and seeing a swastika and going, alright I see how it is. *angrily putting down backpack and taking out spray paint cans and face mask* Can't even take a walk without this b******t...
moonsong23 7 years ago
omas bioladen No, they don't represent Germans, they represent Nazis and the hate they had towards people with beliefs different than theirs.
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Lillian Sommers 7 years ago
There is an elderly woman in Berlin who is doing something similar with stickers and paint. She just goes out everyday and covers up hateful symbols with beautiful things. She herself lived through Nazi Germany and it's a great story if you have CNNGO you can find it on there.
Vincent Jay 7 years ago
A clever idea with interesting art as the result. On the other hand, if I were in a hurry, I'd simply slop some paint on to cover the offending symbol.
TC 7 years ago
It's a pitty the Swastika was adopted by Nazis in the 30's and lost its original - 15 thousand year old, at least- meaning. From from Japan, India (today) Mesopotamia or the Basc "Lauburu" it has been used in a positive way almost in any prehistoric culture. I like swastikas, not Nazis.
Pi... 7 years ago
Nice artwork.... and really creative doodles! .... but I feel bad that a symbol of prosperity for the Indian people has gathered world wide notoriety as a symbol of hate and genocide. Why can't the world perform the cleanse and start recognising the Swastik symbol for what it is, I.e a good luck symbol and one of hope and wellness...
arg 7 years ago
No one protests against swastikas on asian temples. There are not a lot of buddhist temples in Germany, but tons of reminders of a cruel regime that killed millions. Different regions in the world are allowed to have different symbols.
Load More Replies... TropicalPanda 7 years ago
As an Indian this makes me sad... wanna elaborate on my feelings but guess they are pretty obvious..
Richard Hess 7 years ago
For what it's worth, I'm sorry s**t stains from Europe appropriated a symbol from your religion and turned it in to racist filth.
Load More Replies... Hayley Lightcap 7 years ago
I can just imagine the artist walking down the street and seeing a swastika and going, alright I see how it is. *angrily putting down backpack and taking out spray paint cans and face mask* Can't even take a walk without this b******t...
moonsong23 7 years ago
omas bioladen No, they don't represent Germans, they represent Nazis and the hate they had towards people with beliefs different than theirs.
Load More Replies... Lillian Sommers 7 years ago
There is an elderly woman in Berlin who is doing something similar with stickers and paint. She just goes out everyday and covers up hateful symbols with beautiful things. She herself lived through Nazi Germany and it's a great story if you have CNNGO you can find it on there.
Vincent Jay 7 years ago
A clever idea with interesting art as the result. On the other hand, if I were in a hurry, I'd simply slop some paint on to cover the offending symbol.
TC 7 years ago
It's a pitty the Swastika was adopted by Nazis in the 30's and lost its original - 15 thousand year old, at least- meaning. From from Japan, India (today) Mesopotamia or the Basc "Lauburu" it has been used in a positive way almost in any prehistoric culture. I like swastikas, not Nazis.
Pi... 7 years ago
Nice artwork.... and really creative doodles! .... but I feel bad that a symbol of prosperity for the Indian people has gathered world wide notoriety as a symbol of hate and genocide. Why can't the world perform the cleanse and start recognising the Swastik symbol for what it is, I.e a good luck symbol and one of hope and wellness...
arg 7 years ago
No one protests against swastikas on asian temples. There are not a lot of buddhist temples in Germany, but tons of reminders of a cruel regime that killed millions. Different regions in the world are allowed to have different symbols.
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