Police Attack with Shields, Pepper Gas After Pride Parade Statement Read

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Releasing a statement yesterday (June 29), the 27th İstanbul Pride Week Committee made a call to everyone to gather in front of French Cultural Center in Taksim at 5 p.m. today for the 17th İstanbul LGBTI+ Pride Parade.

CLICK - 27th İstanbul LGBTI+ Pride Week Starts

After the Governorship of İstanbul announced that it would not let the parade take place in Taksim, the committee asked for permission to hold it in Bakırköy district. However, the Governorship did not permit the parade to take place there, either. Accordingly, as of 2 p.m. today, Anti-Riot Water Cannon Vehicles (TOMA) and police teams started waiting around Taksim Square and İstiklal Avenue, where the Parade was planned to be held.

The hour-by-hour developments in Taksim were as follows:

'Every parade of ours is a pride parade'

7 p.m. - 8 p.m: The statement for the press was also read out in Tepebaşı The Marmara Hotel and on Hayriye Street. After the statement on Hayriye Street, the police attacked again. It has been reported that five people were taken into custody throughout the day.

Police said 'Leave the cafes', used pepper gas

5.45 p.m.: Closing the front side of the cafes and bars on Mis Street, where the Pride Parade statement was read out, police officers ordered the people not to wait in front of the cafes and bars. Afterwards, they used pepper gas on the people sitting there to force them to leave.

Police intervened with shields and pepper gas

5.30 p.m.: Police intervened with shields and pepper gas against the ones who dispersed to the side streets.

Police ordered the group to 'disperse'

5.10 p.m: After the statement was read out, the police ordered the group to disperse and announced that they would intervene if they did not do so.

Statement for the press read out

5 p.m.: The İstanbul LGBTI+ Pride Parade statement was read out:

'Don't shush, but shout: Homosexuals are here'

4.30 p.m.: The ones who gathered on Mis Street chanted the slogan, "Don't shush, but shout: Homosexuals are here!"

Celebration on Mis Street until 5.30 p.m.

4.20 p.m.: In a statement made on Mis Street in Beyoğlu, it was announced that Pride Week could be celebrated there until 5.30 p.m.

'Hear the voices of our children'

4.11 p.m.: Speaking to bianet, families said, "We always stand with our children. Our children did not do anything wrong. We are here for a peaceful demonstration. Hear the voices of our children."

Phone numbers to be called in case of emergency

15.59 p.m.: The Pride Week Committee shared the telephone numbers to be called in case of emergency: 0090 (545) 556 1301 and 0090 (545) 556 1401.

Families: We are here as well

3.45 p.m.: LGBTI+ individuals were supported by their families as well. Carrying banners that read "Let's hug", families said, "We are here as well."

Committee: We are waiting for everyone

3.55 p.m.: The Committee released the statement for the press to be read in today's İstanbul LGBTI+ Pride Parade. The Committee asked everyone to read the statement wherever they are today and to share them on social media under the hashtags #Pride2019, #HerYürüyüşümüzOnurYürüyüşü (Every parade of ours is a pride parade) and #onurhaftası (pride week).

3.19 p.m.: Halim Kır from the Committee spoke to bianet and said:

"There are heavy security measures. The vicinity of Odakule, where we made our statement last year, is under heavy police blockade this year. The police do not let the ones, whom they take for LGBTI+s, into the avenue and do a criminal record check. But, we will meet in front of the French Cultural Center at 5 p.m. We are waiting for everyone."

3 p.m.: Police officers did a criminal record check on people, whom they thought to be LGBTI+s.

2 p.m.: Anti-Riot Water Cannon Vehicles were waiting around Taksim Square and İstiklal Avenue as of 2 p.m. today. (EMK/HA/SD)

* Photographs and videos: Evrim Kepenek - Hikmet Adal / bianet