We decided to turn things around and to transform the concrete blocks into an example for hope and the joy of living. And what could be more life-affirming than a dash of color? In only 24 hours, we transformed the infamous concrete blocks around the Christmas market in central Hamburg simply by coloring and tagging them with the words #MoreColorLessFear.

The action was planned and executed within 24 hours. All it took was the courage of five people and a bag full of spray paint to add the color and hashtag to the sides of the blocks.

The blocks turned from grey concrete to colorful stone overnight surprising passers-by and market visitors in the morning. They stopped to take pictures spreading our message via social media without any media budget.

The action created a worldwide echo with hundreds of images shared on Facebook, Instagram and Snapchat. People used the colorful blocks as backdrops for snapshots or sent pictures to their friends and family to encourage them after the attack in Berlin. Thus, the message of #MoreColorLessFear was distributed via social media within hours.

#MoreColorLessFear generated press coverage with nearly every significant German news portal such as Spiegel Online, Stern, ze.tt, ZEIT online, NDR, Hamburger Abendblatt, Mopo, Berliner Zeitung, ProSieben Newstime as well as international news networks.

Additionally, the manufacturer of the concrete blocks auctioned the blocks and donated the proceeds to the Weißer Ring e.V., a German NGO dedicated to the victims of criminal and terrorist attacks.