A new French maple tree will be planted in the Tiergarten, Berlin, on Thursday at 11:00 AM. The planting takes place at the site of an Islamist-motivated attack that occurred near the Christopher Street Day (CSD) in Berlin.
The previous tree located at the site of the attack had to be felled. The new tree will feature a protective metal grate where photos and flowers can be attached without damaging nature, according to the Mitte District Office (Bezirksamt Mitte).
The Mitte District Office stated that the initiative was led by District Councilor Christopher Schriner and his staff. The planning process involved the District Mayor of Mitte, Stefanie Remlinger, the Commissioner for Queer and Anti-Discrimination, Martin Vahemäe-Zierold, and the boards of both the CSD and the LSVD.
A rainbow-colored bench will accompany the tree. The bench is intended as a sign for 'die Solidarität mit der queeren Community sowie das gemeinsame Eintreten für eine offene und demokratische Gesellschaft' (solidarity with the queer community as well as a joint stand for an open and democratic society). The Mitte District Office press office stated that the site is not intended as a memorial for the attack, which remains a subject of discussion, but rather for a dignified handling of the crime scene.
District Mayor Stefanie Remlinger intends to invite representatives of the queer community to a meeting in approximately four weeks to discuss potential memorial designs for the attack.
