EN

May Day celebrated massively all across Turkey

Following the 2 years of the Covid-19 pandemic, workers all over the country filled the streets and city centers to celebrate May Day. Taksim Square, which has been the main location for these celebrations, was under a police blockade this year as well. 164 people who tried to enter Taksim were detained.

Abone Ol

164 PEOPLE WERE DETAINED

Taksim Square was under a police blockade from the early hours of May 1. Workers, students, unions, and political parties who did not accept the blockade tried to enter Taksim, while 164 were detained.

After a wreath was placed on the Taksim May Day site, Arzu Çerkezoğlu, chair of DİSK (Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey) made a statement: “The May Day square is Taksim square. Since 2013, Taksim Square has been closed to the working class and to May Day, once again. The blockade of Taksim to the working class also shows how democracy, worker rights, and the future of this country are being shaped.”

MALTEPE SQUARE IN ISTANBUL FILLED WITH THE DEMANDS OF WORKING CLASS

Since Taksim was blocked, workers, laborers, women, and youth filled the Maltepe Square in Istanbul.

Journalists’ Union of Turkey (TGS), Turkish Medical Association (TTB), Union of Turkish Engineers & Architects Chambers (TMMOB), Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DISK ), Confederation of Public Employees’ Unions (KESK), Turkish Dental Association (TDB), Turkish Authors’ Association (TYB) attended the celebrations in Maltepe.

At the entrance of the rally area, a group of LGBTI+ objected their bags to being searched. After a long discussion between the group and the police, LGBTI+ members entered the area after the banners in their bags were checked.

ANKARA CHANTED "LONG LIVE GEZI RESISTANCE"

May Day rally was held in Tandoğan Square in Ankara and Tayfun Görgün from DISK read the press release on behalf of the May Day Organizing Committee.

The Gezi trial decision, condemning Osman Kavala to an aggravated life sentence and seven others to 18 years of prison, was not forgotten as well. The crowd marching towards Tandoğan Square chanted “Long Live Gezi Resistance”.

GEZI WAS REMEMBERED IN IZMIR

Izmir celebrated May Day in two locations, the city center Konak, and Dikili district. Along with tens of thousands of people, Tunç Soyer, Mayor of Izmir Metropolitan Municipality, attended the May Day rally held in Konak Gündoğdu Square.

The message of the Gezi trial detainees was read in İzmir Gündoğdu Square: “We will resist oppression. We will fight together, we will win together. Our struggle for equality, freedom, justice, and democracy will prevail. Greetings to all of you from Bakırköy and Silivri! Long live May Day!”

WORKERS CELEBRATED THE DAY WITH JOY IN AEGEAN REGION

Many participated in the May 1 Labor and Solidarity Day demonstrations in the other cities of the Aegean region of Turkey. Manisa Labor, Democracy, and Peace Platform celebrated May Day at Manolya Square with a press release, to which CHP Group Deputy Chair Özgür Özel attended as well.

People sang songs and folk songs in Aydın and Kuşadası to celebrate the day.

VILLAGERS MARCHED WITH HAMMER AND SICKLE

In the Mediterranean Region, May Day was celebrated with joy both in city centers and villages, such as Tarsus, Mersin, Kaş, Hatay, İskenderun, Adana, and Antalya.

In Köprülü village of Antalya, 4 villagers and a dog marched with hammer and sickle in their hands.

EYT (Early retirement victims) Antalya group marched with a coffin on which "No to retirement in the grave" is written.

POLICE TOLD HDP DEPUTY TO "GO PLAY AT HOME"

In Siirt, KESK Branches Platform made a press statement on the city square to which HDP Siirt deputies Meral Danış Beştaş and Sıddık Taş attended as well. Following the statement, the police intervened in the group that wanted to play music and dance halay. The chief of the plainclothes police said to HDP Group Deputy Chair Meral Danış Beştaş, “Go play at home”.

Despite the rain, May Day was celebrated with great enthusiasm in Batman under the leadership of the Labor and Democracy Platform. Şırnak, Diyarbakır, Mardin and Gaziantep celebrated the day with joy as well.

One person celebrated May Day in Şanlıurfa.

POLICE BLOCKADE IN VAN

Police blocked the group who wanted to walk to Musa Anter Park for May 1 celebrations in Van. Thousands of people, including HDP Deputy Murat Sarısaç, were stopped by the police.

Unions, political parties, organizations, and citizens attended the May Day celebrations in Muş.

HDP Iğdır Provincial Organization marched to the Musa Anter monument on May 1 Labor Day with the slogans “No to War, Biji Aşiti”.

Dersim celebrated the day with joy despite the rain in the city. Elazığ, Tatvan, Hakkari, Kars, and Malatya celebrated May Day along with the other cities in the Eastern Anatolia Region.

MARMARA REGION CELEBRATED THE MAY DAY

After 2 years, May Day was celebrated with joy in Balikesir’s Ayvalık and Edremit districts.

In Gebze, hundreds of workers who are members of the Petrol-İş (Union of Oil, Chemistry, Tire, Plastic Workers) fill the city to protest the economical crisis and celebrate Labor and Solidarity Day.

The crowd in Bursa chanted “AKP will answer to the public”

Workers in Lüleburgaz, Manisa, Bandırma, and Çanakkale also participate in the celebration of May Day in their cities.

ESKİŞEHİR SAID "FREEDOM FOR AYSEL TUĞLUK"

Along with Ankara; Eskişehir, Konya, Sivas, and Kırşehir in the Central Anatolia Region celebrated May Day.

In Eskişehir, the police did not let the HDP banner, on which “Freedom for Aysel Tuğluk” was written at first. When the other groups objected this restriction by saying that “We will not go in as well”, the police changed their mind and let the banner and groups in the area.

GIRESUN CELEBRATED THE DAY DESPITE THE RAIN

Several cities in the different parts of the Black Sea Region celebrated May Day, such as Samsun, Rize, Ordu, Zonguldak, and Artvin. A rally was held in Bolu with a number of participants.

Workers in Giresun attended the demonstration with enthusiasm despite the rain in the city.

In the Ereğli district of Zonguldak, Labor and Solidarity Day was celebrated with less than forty participants.