Occupy activists are holding a rally in New York’s Zuccotti Park to show their support for anti-government protests raging in the heart of Istanbul. Similar demonstrations are being held throughout the world.
Hundreds of protesters have gathered in Zuccotti Park, the
epicenter of the Occupy Wall Street movement, and plan to march 3
miles to the Turkish consulate.
The “peaceful international solidarity event” is being
held “with the goal to direct public attention to Istanbul
Gezi Parki protests and consequent police brutality of
AKP/Erdogan government!” Occupy Wall Street announced.
Demonstrators, many dressed in red, could be seen waving signs
proclaiming ‘Istanbul is not alone’ while others waved the
Turkish national flag.
Saturday marks what activists have dubbed as a “homecoming
celebration” to occupy the space where the movement first began
in September 2011, as well as to “take a militant stand
against the NYPD to assert our right to [nonviolently] exist in
public spaces.”
While other ‘OccupyGezi’ protests have been or will be held in
several major US cities, including Austin, Boston and Chicago,
the protests are quickly taking on a worldwide scope.
In Brussels, Turkish nationals gathered in front of the EU
Parliament in Brussels to protest against police violence in
Turkey, RT’s Tesa Arcilla reports. Many in attendance were
chanting anti-government protests and holding up banners.
Similar rallies showing solidarity with Turkish protesters were
held in London, Helsinki and outside the Turkish Embassy in
Nicosia, Cyprus.
Protesters in Egypt also plan to gather for a Taksim solidarity
protest in front of the Turkish Embassy in Cairo on Sunday
evening, RT’s Bel Trew reports.
Thousands of people remain on Taksim Square in the heart of
Istanbul after the city was gripped by a second day of violent
protest.
Clashes were sparked on Friday after police moved in to violently
break up a small sit-in demonstration against redevelopment plans
for the nearby Gezi Park.
The harsh police crackdown, which included the deployment of tear
gas and water cannons, galvanized widespread public support for
the protests and sparked similar rallies throughout the country.
The protests have evolved into public outcry against what
demonstrators say is the increasingly authoritarian drive of
Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
This article originally appeared on: RT