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Releasing a statement yesterday (June 29), the 27th İstanbul Pride Week Committee made a call to everyone to gather in front of French Cultural Center in Taksim at 5 p.m. today for the 17th İstanbul LGBTI+ Pride Parade.
CLICK - 27th İstanbul LGBTI+ Pride Week Starts
After the Governorship of İstanbul announced that it would not let the parade take place in Taksim, the committee asked for permission to hold it in Bakırköy district. However, the Governorship did not permit the parade to take place there, either. Accordingly, as of 2 p.m. today, Anti-Riot Water Cannon Vehicles (TOMA) and police teams started waiting around Taksim Square and İstiklal Avenue, where the Parade was planned to be held.
The hour-by-hour developments in Taksim were as follows:
'Every parade of ours is a pride parade'
7 p.m. - 8 p.m: The statement for the press was also read out in Tepebaşı The Marmara Hotel and on Hayriye Street. After the statement on Hayriye Street, the police attacked again. It has been reported that five people were taken into custody throughout the day.
Police said 'Leave the cafes', used pepper gas
5.45 p.m.: Closing the front side of the cafes and bars on Mis Street, where the Pride Parade statement was read out, police officers ordered the people not to wait in front of the cafes and bars. Afterwards, they used pepper gas on the people sitting there to force them to leave.
Police intervened with shields and pepper gas
5.30 p.m.: Police intervened with shields and pepper gas against the ones who dispersed to the side streets.
Police ordered the group to 'disperse'
5.10 p.m: After the statement was read out, the police ordered the group to disperse and announced that they would intervene if they did not do so.
Statement for the press read out
5 p.m.: The İstanbul LGBTI+ Pride Parade statement was read out:
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"17th Istanbul LGBTI+ Pride March, which we organise today, is banned by the Istanbul Governorate for the fifth time! Istanbul Governorate, which blocks Istiklal Street to all social opposition groups for security reasons, has unlawfully rejected our application for Bakırkoy - a legally announced public demonstration place - with the claim that we are a socially "hesitant" group. This ban shows that not only Taksim but Istanbul as a whole is prohibited for LGBTI+ people. The hostility towards LGBTI+ community has even become a state policy with the other bans in Antalya, Mersin, METU, and Izmir.
"It is one more time demonstrated that those who ban our Pride March with copy-and-paste reasons such as public peace and security, terror, public morality, and public health can not govern the state. Previously organised in a peaceful manner, the Pride March does not threaten the public peace - it is the law enforcement who has attacked the public in Pride Marches in the last five years.
"It is ironic that those who are abusing their power, stealing from the public, and presenting their own obsession of power as a perpetuity problem of the state are striving to ban us on the ground of so-called public morality. Those state officials who do not hesitate to fuel the hate against LGBTI+ people, and those who targeted the LGBTI+ community three times in a week for a couple of votes they wished to receive should not forget the fact that LGBTI+s are the society itself. Those who point at us as a target are a handful of power addicts who will sink into oblivion.
"We persistently repeat for those who ignore the demands of LGBTI+ people, for those who attempt to show us as a "disoriented" and "hesitant" group: We are determined in our struggle, and we know what we want very well! Sexual orientation and gender identity must be recognised in the Constitution! Homicides targeting the LGBTI+ community must not go unpunished, and the perpetrators must not be granted abatement for good conduct. The rights of LGBTI+ people, who are blocked to access fundamental human rights such as education, health, and housing, must be legally secured. Our demands neither disturbs the public peace nor threatens the public security. Our demands are essential in a constitutional state in order for us to access equal citizenship rights. Those who are banning our march today must know that the public peace will only be provided if all the oppressed social groups, including LGBTI+ people, seises their rights and are assured their lives. Social peace is not possible in an unequal society!
"It is the 50th year of our organised struggle for a proud live since the spark that was ignited at Stonewall. In the 50th year of Stonewall, and in the 27th year of Istanbul Pride Week, we once again acknowledge by taking spirit from the struggle we fight for our bodies, desires, rights, and existence all over the world, from Orlando to New Delhi, from Palestine to Amsterdam: We neither abandon our lives and solidarity, nor collective struggle! We are here! Get used to it - we are not going away!
"Happy 27th Istanbul LGBTI+ Pride Week and 17th Pride March!"
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'Don't shush, but shout: Homosexuals are here'
4.30 p.m.: The ones who gathered on Mis Street chanted the slogan, "Don't shush, but shout: Homosexuals are here!"
Celebration on Mis Street until 5.30 p.m.
4.20 p.m.: In a statement made on Mis Street in Beyoğlu, it was announced that Pride Week could be celebrated there until 5.30 p.m.
'Hear the voices of our children'
4.11 p.m.: Speaking to bianet, families said, "We always stand with our children. Our children did not do anything wrong. We are here for a peaceful demonstration. Hear the voices of our children."
Phone numbers to be called in case of emergency
15.59 p.m.: The Pride Week Committee shared the telephone numbers to be called in case of emergency: 0090 (545) 556 1301 and 0090 (545) 556 1401.
Families: We are here as well
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3.45 p.m.: LGBTI+ individuals were supported by their families as well. Carrying banners that read "Let's hug", families said, "We are here as well."
Committee: We are waiting for everyone
3.55 p.m.: The Committee released the statement for the press to be read in today's İstanbul LGBTI+ Pride Parade. The Committee asked everyone to read the statement wherever they are today and to share them on social media under the hashtags #Pride2019, #HerYürüyüşümüzOnurYürüyüşü (Every parade of ours is a pride parade) and #onurhaftası (pride week).
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3.19 p.m.: Halim Kır from the Committee spoke to bianet and said:
"There are heavy security measures. The vicinity of Odakule, where we made our statement last year, is under heavy police blockade this year. The police do not let the ones, whom they take for LGBTI+s, into the avenue and do a criminal record check. But, we will meet in front of the French Cultural Center at 5 p.m. We are waiting for everyone."
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3 p.m.: Police officers did a criminal record check on people, whom they thought to be LGBTI+s.
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2 p.m.: Anti-Riot Water Cannon Vehicles were waiting around Taksim Square and İstiklal Avenue as of 2 p.m. today. (EMK/HA/SD)
* Photographs and videos: Evrim Kepenek - Hikmet Adal / bianet
