It's easy to miss the controversial bronze statue. It stands in front of a Soviet-style, high-rise apartment in the East German city of Schwerin.
Far removed from the ornate city center, this 13-foot-tall depiction of Vladimir Lenin has him looking relaxed. His hands are tucked in his coat pockets and he's gazing off into the distance.
But an angry message is scrawled in red paint across the sidewalk at his feet. In German, it reads: "LENIN STAYS."
This fall, Germans will celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Berlin Wall coming down, marking the end of the Cold War and the long-time division of Germany. Yet a generation later, many Germans are still conflicted about whether to memorialize their former Communist half.
An elderly resident hobbling past the statue with a walker mistakes me for a protester and scolds me to leave the statue alone.
i i