Solidarity protests with Gezi Park held across Turkey

ISTANBUL

Ankara locals gathered in Kuğulu Park, their own little patch of green in the center of the city. DAILY NEWS photo Selahattin SÖNMEZ

Locals of many Turkish cities came out to show their solidarity to Taksim Gezi Park protesters and express their outrage at the police’s brutal raids May 31, organizing several protests across the country. 

Most notably, Ankara locals gathered in Kuğulu Park, their own little patch of green in the center of the city. Another group of 2,000 people that gathered at the Abdi İpekçi Park were quelled with tear gas as they wanted to walk in front of the Prime Minister’s Office. The group finally made a nearly 10-kilometer-long march to join the protest in the Kuğulu Park area. 

In İzmir more than 10,000 people held a protest near the Marina. Demonstrators held banners reading “Everywhere is Taksim, everywhere is resistance” and “Resist Taksim, İzmir is with you” and “Chemical Erdoğan.” Protesters in İzmir were also raided by the police armed with tear gas and water cannons. 

Solidarity demonstrations were also organized in Bursa, Eskişehir, Adana, İzmt, Konya, Samsun, Mersin and many other Turkish towns.