Poilce Take Off Even Flowers on Yüksel Street on 65th Day of Hunger Strike

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Police have cleared the Human Rights Monuments where academic Nuriye Gülmen and teacher Semih Özakça have been resisting for 185 days on Yüksel Street in capital city of Ankara. Four people on watch at the square have been taken into custody.

Gülmen and Özakça told bianet that there was police blockade at the area and they even took off the flowers on the street.

10 people including Veli Saçılık went to the area to stage a sit-in at around 10:30 a.m. Gülmen and Özakça made a call for rally at the square at 1:30 p.m.

Gülmen: Sign of desperation

“It is a sign of desperation. It shows that they don’t know what to do. The support growing has scared them. They are trying to terrorize it. They act on instant reflex to prevent people from coming here.

“I don’t think they can intimidate people. They can’t intimidate us”.

Özakça: The resistance will continue no matter what they do

*According to the information we obtained, they will detain anyone but teachers. That means: they are trying to end the protest by isolating us.

“We are very determined. Our hunger strike is within our bodies. The resistance will continue no matter what they do. I know that people will face the risks and take it to the street to make us heard. I know this. I believe in people and I know that they will lend ear to our call”. (BK/TK)