Swastikas on pride flags: Rainbow Combine Cottbus attacked again

epd | The Rainbow Combine Cottbus has once again become the target of right-wing extremist attacks. On Saturday night, swastikas were sprayed on several rainbow flags, the “Safe Places South Brandenburg” initiative announced on Saturday. In addition, the facade was marked with the words “We hate you”.

The Rainbow Combine is “an important anchor for the queer community in Cottbus and Lower Lusatia,” explained the initiative. It has already been attacked several times by extreme right-wing violent criminals and has therefore joined forces with other socio-cultural places to form the “Safe Places South Brandenburg” initiative.

The solidarity network defends itself against right-wing attacks together, “with public visibility, practical support and a clear stance,” it said. The spokesman for the initiative, the Protestant pastor Lukas Pellio, explained that it has long been clear that extreme right-wing election results lead to more right-wing crimes. It is expected that endangered places will be effectively protected and secured in the long term. Anyone who now saves on diversity and democracy has “not recognized the signs of the times”.