VIDEO: University choir makes surprise reference to Gezi on TV

ISTANBUL

Members of the Boğaziçi University Jazz Choir changed a song’s finale, adding reference to the Gezi Park protests of June 2013 during their performance on mainstream news network NTV’s special broadcast for the May 19 celebrations. 

The students joined a special broadcast for the Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day by singing a folk song titled “Entarisi ala benziyor” (Her dress looks red), which was amongst Mustafa Kemal Atatürk’s personal favorites. 

Towards the end of their performance, students bowed to salute the audience, when they suddenly lifted their heads up and sang a final line: “Çapulcu musun vay vay” (“Are you a marauder” in English).

President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan had referred to Gezi protesters as “marauders” (“Çapulcu” in Turkish), which was ironically converted to the Anglicism “chapullers” and became one of the demonstrators’ war cries.

The surprise attracted great attention, as NTV has been criticized lately for its pro-government editorial policies.