Taksim Gezi Park is one of the few green spaces in the heart of Istanbul. Recently, the park and its 606 trees were slated to be levelled to pave the way for a shopping mall complex - the latest step in Turkey's construction boom.
But something unusual happened on May 28: Sirri Sureyya Onder, a member of parliament from an opposition party, joined campaigners staging a sit-in at the park, stood in front of a bulldozer and saved a tree. As he stood there, others came to support him, and a crowd formed. Some protesters set up an encampment.
On May 31, police raided the park and used tear gas to disperse the protesters, prompting harsh criticism of the Turkish government and its ruling Justice and Development (AKP) party. The uprising has now spread to dozens of cities across Turkey.
As in the Arab Spring and the 2009 Iranian elections, protesters in Turkey used Twitter to communicate and organise demonstrations. A few hours into the protests, Twitter users had sent two million tweets with hashtags related to the park. At one point, thousands of people - organised through Twitter - crossed Istanbul's Bosphorus Bridge on foot to reach the park. Full story...
Related posts:
But something unusual happened on May 28: Sirri Sureyya Onder, a member of parliament from an opposition party, joined campaigners staging a sit-in at the park, stood in front of a bulldozer and saved a tree. As he stood there, others came to support him, and a crowd formed. Some protesters set up an encampment.
On May 31, police raided the park and used tear gas to disperse the protesters, prompting harsh criticism of the Turkish government and its ruling Justice and Development (AKP) party. The uprising has now spread to dozens of cities across Turkey.
As in the Arab Spring and the 2009 Iranian elections, protesters in Turkey used Twitter to communicate and organise demonstrations. A few hours into the protests, Twitter users had sent two million tweets with hashtags related to the park. At one point, thousands of people - organised through Twitter - crossed Istanbul's Bosphorus Bridge on foot to reach the park. Full story...
Related posts:
- The Turkish riots in 90 seconds...
- "People are very, very angry." Protests, demands grow in Turkey...
- Turbulence in Turkey: Massive protest sweeps Istanbul's Taksim...
- Mass protests rage on in Turkey...
- Riots, barricades, street battles as police fight protesters in Turkey...
- Turkey protests spread as Istanbul sit-in turns violent...
- Malaysia deports Saudi "tweeter" journalist Hamza Kashgari...
No comments:
Post a Comment