Unknown individuals stole two rainbow flags from in front of the city’s central library in Mönchengladbach, Germany. The municipal institution responded in its own way: new rainbow flags and rainbow garlands are now adorning the entrance area.
The two large flags had been raised in June on the flagpoles in front of the building to send a message of acceptance for the LGBTQ+ community during Pride Month. On Monday, the library announced that the flags had been stolen. The exact time of the theft and who may be behind it remained undisclosed. No suspects have been named yet.
The library also posted on Instagram statistics about an uptick in queer-phobic crimes, information about a contact for an LGBTIQ helpline, and book recommendations on the topic. With the new rainbow flags and garlands, the city facility said it wanted to “send an even stronger signal for diversity, respect and solidarity.”
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The Queer Center in Mönchengladbach had been targeted earlier this year: a pane of glass at the facility was smashed, and a swastika was painted nearby with the message “We’re coming.” Local media reported that, by late June, police had identified three suspects. They were described as youths between 14 and 20 years old and were said to be aligned with right-wing circles.
