Today is the 4th day of resistance of the people protesting demolition of Gezi Park the construction of Shopping Mall in Taksim İstanbul.
Police, without any warning, used tear gas and pressurized water against protestors at 05.00 am and 10:00 am. It is very hard to describe the police’s attacked: it was the culmination of violence and barbarism with an unproportional use of force. More than 20.000 is still protesting against the cruelity of the police and the demolition of of Gezi Parkı.
Literally, almost all of Taksim Area, where Gezi Park is, is tear-gassed and pepper gas-sprayed; especially the side streets around Taksim Square are under clouds of gas.
Since the 27th of May, Istanbulites from all social and political backgrounds and ages and from all over the city had been continuing a peaceful resistance in Gezi Park, the city’s largest public park, soon to be demolished due to a so-called renewal project. This Project foresees the erection of a big mall (designed as the replica of the once Ottoman Artillery Barracks) in the place of those trees.
In solidarity with the protestors, hundreds arrived in the evening and the occupation movement grew bigger. Against this inhumanity and extreme violence, the reaction was the occupation of the park, this time by thousands.
Last night there was also a big intervation: police came early in the morning of May 30th at 5 am. The riot police set fire to the tents and tear gas and pepper sprays were used incessantly, causing serious injuries.
Police; has forced out all the protestors from the Gezi Park and protestors are gathering around the park. There will be gathering on 13:00 pm and 19:00 pm for protecing our city and again claiming about power to the people.
Devin Bahceçi
