Istanbulites React to Police Violence

Throughout the day, police gassed and water cannoned hundreds of demonstrators assembled in downtown Istanbul to protest the destruction of Taksim Gezi Park. 

Around 12:30pm local time, hundreds of protestors including deputies Sırrı Süreyya Önder and Levent Tüzel started a sit-in protest at tram stop in downtown Istanbul. While the protest was supported by union worker groups such as DISK and HEY Textile, police put barricades at the entrance of Istiklal Avenue and Tarlabaşı Boulevard. 

Protestors shouted slogans like “AKP, hands off from Taksim!”, “Killer Tayyip”, “Gezi is ours, Taksim is ours”, “No salvation alone, either all or none”, “AKP will account to people” and “Shoulder by shoulder against fascism”. 

In the meanwhile, some police groups retreated from Tarlabaşı direction and other attacked sit-on protestors with two tanks equipped with spray cannons. 

Istanbulites fled in terror towards Harbiye, Gümüşsuyu and Atatürk Culture Center direction with many subjected to police intervention with half a dozen tanks. 

Police casted several gas bombs and allegedly used plastic bullets, eyewitnesses claimed. 

Some demonstrators attempted to re-gather around the Taksim Square - an attempted intervened by police. Several injuries and detentions were reported. 

Another group that gathered in Istiklal Avenue was attacked by a group of police forces and tanks located nearby General Consulate of France 

Many onlookers and local business owners reacted to the police intervention. A reacting young man has been harshly treated by his arm and detained by the police. Another pedestrian who handed a clover to a police officer was confronted with pepper spray. 

Tear gas bombs formed a huge cloud in the subway station. Police casted a tear gas bomb towards the feet of a young man who protested the intervention. Another pedestrian was saved by others as he protested the police violence by showing tear gas bomb shell to police and asking them “We are also humans. Why do you throw these at us?”. 

Some police officers also insulted pedestrians, eyewitnesses said. Dozens of drivers used their horns to show their support with the protestors. (EKN/BM)