Police Attack Group Marching From Zincirlikuyu to Taksim

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Police have attacked a group of people gathering in Zincirlikuyu district of İstanbul to march to Taksim Square for May 1 celebrations.

1 Mayıs kutlamaları için Gayrettepe Metro İstasyonu'nda toplanan yurttaşların yürüyüş yapmasına izin vermeyen polis kitleye müdahale etti pic.twitter.com/UAqGp66tWv

— dihaber (@dihaberturkce) 1 Mayıs 2017

According to dihaber (Dicle News Agency), May 1 demonstrators who have gathered in Zincirlikuyu to march to Taksim Square were attacked by police, have dispersed to side streets and are trying to get to Taksim.

Police also attacked a group gathering in Beşiktaş to march to Taksim Square and some demonstrators were taken into custody.

May 1 and Taksim

May 1 was celebrated in Turkey for the first time in 1906.

In 1977, fire was opened during May 1 celebrations at the Takim Square, killing 34 people. The event passed into history as "Bloody May ".

In 1979, May celebrations were banned in İstanbul and curfew was declared.

In 1989, a group of 2,000 people attempting to march towards Taksim on İstikal Street were dispersed by the police. A young man named Mehmet Akif Dalcı was shot to death during the incidents.

In 2009, over 5,000 people celebrated May 1 at the Taksim Square. Even though the governorship declared that no pepper gas would be used, police intervened in the demonstrators with pepper gas.

In 2010, the Taksim Square was opened to "demonstrations" after 32 years.

In 2013, the police attacked the groups that wanted to go to the Taksim Square. The celebrations were held following a police intervention that lasted seven hours. The police attacked that celebrations as well.

In 2014 and 2015, the Taksim Square was closed to May 1 celebrations. The groups rallying in Beşiktaş and Şişli confronted police attack. (YY/DG)