ISTANBUL – A crowd attempting to march from Mecidiyeköy to Taksim Square issued a statement while under police blockade, saying the government is committing a crime by closing public squares and declaring: “Everywhere is Taksim, everywhere is resistance.”

 

The standoff continues as demonstrators try to reach Taksim Square, which has been closed by a decision of the Istanbul Governor’s Office. Police continue to surround the crowd in Mecidiyeköy. 

 

Protesters chanted slogans such as “Long live May Day/Bijî 1 Gulan,” and “Everywhere is Taksim, everywhere is resistance.”

 

Speaking at the scene, Süleyman Keskin, head of the Energy Workers’ Union (Enerji-Sen), affiliated with the Confederation of Revolutionary Trade Unions (DISK), said the government is “committing a crime” by closing Taksim Square and attempting to intimidate the public through “arbitrary” practices.

 

“We stood shoulder to shoulder today, on the 50th anniversary of the 76th May Day, to defend the will of Taksim. Hundreds of our friends, unionized workers and revolutionaries in this country have been detained. We protest these unlawful and arbitrary detentions and demand the immediate release of all detainees,” he said.

 

‘EVERYWHERE IS TAKSIM, EVERYWHERE IS RESISTANCE’

 

Keskin said they do not recognize the ban and recalled past court rulings acquitting demonstrators and added: “We attempted to march to Taksim dozens of times; we were detained repeatedly and acquitted each time. International law is clear. The Constitutional Court is clear. This government is committing a crime by closing the squares. But today’s gathering shows that everywhere is Taksim and everywhere is resistance.”

 

The crowd remains under police blockade as the standoff continues.