A 15-Year Chronology of the May Day Celebrations in İstanbul: 2004 - 2018

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Representatives from the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK), Confederation of Public Employees Trade Unions (KESK), Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB) and Turkish Medical Association (TTB) held a joint statement for the press on April 10, 2019 and announced that they would like "to celebrate the May Day all across Turkey, particularly in Taksim Square in İstanbul."

Two days later, these four confederations and professional organizations, or the "May Day Committee" as they call themselves, conveyed their intention of holding the May Day celebrations in Taksim Square to the Governorship of İstanbul as well as to the Ministry of Interior.

However, it was announced on April 25 that the application of the committee was rejected by the Governorship. The May Day Organization Committee made another statement for the press in front of the Süreyya Opera House in Kadıköy one day later and announced that they would gather at Bakırköy Open Market Area at 12 p.m. for the May Day.

Taksim Square, which also witnessed the Gezi Park protests or Gezi resistance in 2013, also has a symbolic importance for the working class and socialist movements of Turkey. To begin with, it was in the year 1976 that the first large-scale May Day celebrations of Turkey took place in Taksim Square with the participation of more than 200 thousand people.

Then, one year later, on May 1, 1977, over half a million people gathered in Taksim Square to celebrate the May Day. However, the May 1, 1977 has gone down in history as the "Taksim Square Massacre" after fourty-one people were killed and many others got wounded in a mass shooting which targeted the crowd celebrating the May Day. 

Even though Taksim Square has such a symbolic importance and value for the May Day, the May Day celebrations have been banned in the square except for the year 1978 and the three-year period from 2010 to 2012.

Moreover, except for this three-year period, the ones who attempted to celebrate the May Day in Taksim were met with police violence due to the insistence of subsequent Justice and Development Party (AKP) governments on preventing the laborers from celebrating the May Day in Taksim.

Within this context, it is worth taking a look at how and where the İstanbulites have celebrated the May Day over the last 15 years and how the police have intervened in the celebrations attempted to be held in Taksim.

Accordingly, we have compiled the May Day celebrations held in İstanbul since the year 2004 in a reverse chronological order:

May 1, 2018 - Tuesday

Members of the May Day Organization Committee, namely the DİSK, KESK, TMMOB and TTB, released a joint statement for the press on April 10, 2018 and announced that they would hold the May Day celebrations in Maltepe meeting area. In their joint statement, the organizations indicated that they had applied to the Governorship of İstanbul, expressing their wish to celebrate the May Day at Taksim Square; however, they decided on Maltepe upon the rejection of the governorship.

Some organizations, on the other hand, announced that they would be in Taksim on May 1, 2018. Addressing the organizations that made a call to Maltepe for the May Day, İstanbul City Defense also underlined that it is a fill area and, therefore, poses risks in case of an earthquake.

1) İstanbul Directorate General of Security announced that 84 people in total were detained in relation with the Labor Day. While 60 of them were taken into custody in Beşiktaş, six of them were detained in Maltepe, 16 of them in Beyoğlu and two of them in Şişli.

- Four people from the Revolutionary Youth Associations attempted to enter Taksim Square with a banner "We don't recognize Taksim ban." They were battered and detained by police.

- Six people were taken into custody in Matepe meeting area for "resisting the officer on duty."

- The police intervened in the ones who wanted to march from Beşiktaş to Taksim. Some of these people were also detained.

2) Taksim Square was barricaded as of early morning hours. No one was allowed into the square, including journalists. Identity checks were conducted at checkpoints around the square.

- The ones who wanted to enter İstiklal Avenue from the Tünel Square were requested by police to present an "official letter of assignment." Those who could document in any way that they were on their way to their workplace were allowed entry to the avenue after a body and bag search.

3) Having announced that they would be in Taksim on May Day, two labor unions affiliated with the DİSK, namely the Birleşik Metal-İş and Nakliyat-İş, started to march towards Taksim Square together with some other organizations. Upon being intercepted by police in Saraçhane, Nakliyat-İş Union Chair Ali Rıza Küçükosmanoğlu criticized the May Day meeting in Maltepe meeting area and emphasized that it was the Taksim Square where the May Day was supposed to be celebrated.

May 1, 2017 - Monday

Making a statement on April 24, 2017, Minister of Interior Süleyman Soylu stated that May 1 Labor Day would not be celebrated in Taksim.

Labor and professional organizations DİSK, KESK, TMMOB ve TTB announced that they would hold the May Day celebrations in Bakırköy Open Market Area in İstanbul.

Making a call for Taksim Square, some organizations stated that they would gather in Zincirlikuyu to walk towards Taksim.

1) 165 people who attempted to take to Taksim Square were detained in İstiklal Avenue, Beşiktaş, Talimhane, Gayrettepe, Zincirlikuyu, Okmeydanı.

- Two women, who could reach Taksim Square, attempted to stage a sit-in protest there; they were taken into custody.

- Attempting to march to Taksim with a banner that read "No to Taksim ban", a group of Revolutionary Movement members were intervened by police in Talimhane, at least 10 of them were detained.

- A group of lawyers wanted to meet the Judge of Penal Court of Peace on Duty to demand the release of the detained; however, they could not find either the judge or the principal secretary in İstanbul Courthouse. They documented the issue by taking down minutes.

- Some of the detained were the ones who were wounded during the intervention of the police with pepper gas and plastic bullets.

2) At the entrance points in Bakırköy, police photographed the banners and placards one by one. The photographs were then sent by the officers to their superiors via a social media application. The "permitted" banners were allowed into the May Day site.

3) Four labor unions and confederations, namely Birleşik Kamu-İş, HAK-İŞ, TÜRK-İŞ and Sime-Sen, gathered in Taksim one by one to commemorate the workers who died in the "Taksim Square Massacre" on May 1, 1977.

May 1, 2016 - Sunday

Releasing a statement on April 30, 2016 and announcing that May 1 Labor Day would not be celebrated in Taksim, the Governorship of İstanbul closed all roads leading to Taksim Square. Neither pedestrians, nor vehicles were allowed to use these roads.

Making a joint statement for the press at the DİSK Central Office in İstanbul, the May Day Organization Committee announced that they decided to hold this year's May Day celebrations at Bakırköy Open Market Area, underlining that this decision would only apply to 2016.

A group of organizations such as the Socialist Solidarity Platform (SODAP), People's Houses, Anarchist Activity, Sweat Blood, Union of Construction Workers and People's Liberation Party (HKP) announced that they would be in Taksim for the May Day celebrations.

1) The meeting in Bakırköy ended with a few incidents of detention and partial intervention.

- While the cortege of the Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) was at the checkpoints in Bakırköy, it was intervened by police. As the reason for the intervention, the police referred to AmedSpor at the first checkpoint and to banners at the second one. They attacked the cortege with pepper gas.

- Five people who left the meeting area were detained by being battered.

2) There was police intervention against the ones who gathered in Beşiktaş, Şişli and Beyoğlu to celebrate the May Day in Taksim.

- Police attacked people with gas bombs, plastic bullets and pressurized water under the Mecidiyeköy Bridge.

- One protestor was injured by a pepper gas capsule in the eye.

- Patrolling around Tarlabaşı near Taksim Square, an Anti-Riot Water Cannon Vehicle (TOMA) hit a person who was trying to cross over the street. Being hospitalized in Şişli Etfal Hospital, Nail Mavuş lost his life.

- According to a statement by May 1 Law platform, 52 people attempting to reach Taksim were taken into custody.

May 1, 2015 - Friday

On April 16, 2015, the Governorship of İstanbul released a written statement on its official website and listed the areas and squares where it was permitted to hold meetings, demonstrations and protest marches. However, Taksim Square was not included in the list.

The DİSK, KESK, TMMOB and TTB announced that they wanted to hold this year's May Day celebrations in Taksim. The Writers' Union of Turkey (TYS) and PEN Turkey Center also announced that they would be in Taksim.

1) Taksim Square was closed. As of 8 a.m. on May 1, no one, except for the journalists with a yellow press card and police officers, was allowed to enter or leave the square. Throughout the day, only the permitted labor organizations could enter the square and place a wreath on Taksim Monument. These organizations were Birleşik Kamu-İş Union, Confederation of Action Labor Unions, Cihan-Sen, Yol-İş, Hak-İş and Türk-İş.

2) Governor of İstanbul Vasip Şahin announced that 203 people were detained, six police officers and 18 protestors were injured on May 1, 2015.

- Two people who opened a banner at Taksim Square were detained.

- A group of Communist Party members left the Cengaver Inn at Taksim Square and run towards the Taksim Monument. They were surrounded and attacked by police there.

- Two people who opened the banner of Struggle Union platform from the window of a cafeteria at the square were taken into custody.

- Police attacked a small group of people who gathered in front of Okmeydanı Hospital to walk towards Taksim. Five people were detained.

- Another person was also detained while trying to go from Zincirlikuyu to Beşiktaş. Nine people were detained in Okmeydanı on the ground that they had gas masks in their backpacks.

- Police officers also entered the Beşiktaş District Office of the Republican People's Party (CHP) and wanted to detain people there.

- Police also attempted to detain a person who had a gas mask in his/her backpack in Beşiktaş. CHP İstanbul MP and former DİSK Chair Süleyman Çelebi talked to the officers, who stated that the person would be released after an identity check. While s/he was released afterwards, the gas mask and helmet of the person were seized.

3) The police intervention that started in Beşiktaş in early morning hours continued with plastic bullets, pressurized water and pepper gas all through the day until evening hours.

- İn Şişli, pedestrians were not allowed to use the roads leading to Taksim.

- It was reported that police used real bullets on protestors in Okmeydanı.

- In Zincirlikuyu, the police attacked the group who gathered to walk towards Taksim with gas bombs and pressurized water. Being attacked by the police, the group run towards the Zincirlikuyu Graveyard. Police continued their attack inside the graveyard by throwing gas bombs and using pressurized water.

- While the police who did not allow people to march from Okmeydanı to Taksim attacked them with gas bombs, the groups attempting to reach Taksim responded to police with fireworks.

- In Beşiktaş, Kani Beko, the then Chair of the DİSK, and Sebahat Tuncel, the then İstanbul MP of the HDP, fainted due to pepper gas.

4) Around the districts of Mecidiyeköy and Şişli, journalists without a yellow press card given by the Prime Ministry were not allowed to pass through the police barricades. Ece Şimşek, a reporter from the Etkin News Agency (ETHA) was injured on her back with a plastic bullet.

5) Meeting workers in Presidency residence, President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan stated that they banned the May Day celebrations in Taksim so as not to paralyze İstanbul. Erdoğan said, "Taksim does not belong to a single union or a couple of unions. If you have the self-confidence, go and hold your meetings in those [permitted] squares."

May 1, 2014 - Thursday

In his meeting with representatives from the DİSK, KESK, TMMOB and TTB on April 14, 2014, Governor of İstanbul of the time Hüseyin Avni Mutlu stated that May Day celebrations should be held at Yenikapı Square instead of Taksim as requested by the labor organizations. As for Erdoğan, who was the Prime Minister then, he pointed to Kadıköy.

1) Taksim Square was closed to everyone, except for police officers and journalists "with a yellow press card." Three labor unions and confederations, namely the Türk-İş, Hak-İş and HAKSEN, were allowed into Taksim Square in small groups to place a wreath on Taksim Monument.

-Afterwards, a group of organizations including the Türk-İş and Türkiye Kamu-Sen Unions, Labor Party, Youth Union of Turkey, Association of Republican Women and Association of Kemalist Thought (ADD) gathered in Kadıköy for the May Day celebrations.

- Shortly before the meeting in Kadıköy ended, a group of people were beaten upon opening flag of Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) at bus stops.

2) Police intervention against the ones who wanted to celebrate the May Day in Taksim continued all through the day in Tarlabaşı, Şişli, Beşiktaş, Okmeydanı, Mecidiyeköy, Levent and Gayrettepe. The police intervened in the protests with pepper gas and pressurized water.

- In Şişli, as of 9 a.m. on May 1, police attacked people with gas bombs in the side streets leading to the DİSK Office in Şişli.

- The members of Education Union (Eğitim-Sen) were also attacked with pepper gas on the Mecidiyeköy Bridge. Patients in Okmeydanı Training and Research Hospital were also affected by pepper gas used by police.

- As it was stated that a cortege would march from the DİSK to Taksim on 11 a.m., the group was attacked by police on Halaskargazi Avenue.

3) Five people were hospitalized in Şişli Etfal Hospital: One of these people was affected by pepper gas, one of them was injured on the head, one of them fell from a high place and two of them had broken arms. 17 other people were also hospitalized in Okmeydanı Hospital, some of these people had broken spines, arms and legs or injuries in their eyes.

4) During the intervention of the police, 12 journalists were injured by pepper gas cartridges and plastic bullets.

5) The Progressive Lawyers Association (ÇHD) announced that over 100 people were detained in İstanbul on May Day.

- Trying to evade the pepper gas in Ortaklar Avenue in Fulya and reach her office in Taksim, t24 reporter Deniz Zerrin was taken into custody.

- Two people who opened the banner of Struggle Union platform were detained.

- Police raided the Communist Party of Turkey (TKP) office in Beşiktaş and took several people into custody. It was reported that four people were also detained in the CHP Beşiktaş District Office.

6) Around the district of Şişli, a group of people with knives and sticks encountered the May Day celebrators. The ones with knives and sticks waited in side streets.

May 1, 2013 - Wednesday

Governor of Istanbul Hüseyin Avni Mutlu stated: “Due to the constructions in Taksim, the square will be unavailable for May Day celebrations”.

1) Police has attacked the protesters with gas and water for 7 hours in Beşiktaş district.

- ÇHD stated that they have been attacked with plastic bullets.

- An announcement was made from CHP’s bus for 5 people, and the police fired tear gas at where 5 wounded people were.

2) There were clashes between the protesters and police at almost all points of Şişli district. Police has attacked the protesters with tear gas and water cannon.

- Police has attacked the group who was walking in front of DISK building with tear gas and water cannon. Police fired tear gas into an apartment flat next to DISK building.

- Police has fired tear gas targeting protesters in the alleys of Mecidiyeköy. Protester retaliated by throwing rocks.

- There were 4 wounded who took refuge in DISK building, these wounded were sent to Şişli Etfal Hospital. Police entered Şişli Etfal Hospital’s garden with riot control vehicles and deployed tear gas and water cannon.

- Tear gas was shot into an apartment flat in the back alley of DISK building, causing a small fire.

- The 12 wounded in DISK building couldn’t be brought out due to heavy police intervention. They were taken to the hospital afterwards.

3) Galata Bridge has been lifted for the first time today since the maintenance work in 1970.

- Metro, metrobus, ferry, motor and tram services were cancelled in Istanbul; many roads were closed to traffic.

-  Governor’s Office has disabled transportation to Taksim by lifting off Galata Bridge and Unkapanı bridge.

4) Police didn’t attack the group that gathered in Turkey.

- TKP has gathered in Kadıköy Docks Square..

5) ÇHD stated: “At least 26 were taken under custody; 7 injured in total, 3 of them injured gravely.

6) 6 journalists were injured in the attacks at Beşiktaş.

7) 17 y.o. Dilan Alp was gravely injured as a result of tear gas hitting her head. She was taken under operation in Taksim First Aid Hospital.

May 1, 2012 - Tuesday

May Day had a holiday atmosphere around the country.

In Istanbul,

- Şişli Municipality Police gave cloves to bypassers in front of Police Building.

- Riot Control Police stood by in the Street between TRT and Harbiye Officer’s club. At searchpoints, traffic police did the work.

- Police was absent in Taksim Square, instead they stood by in Sıraselviler and Istiklal Street.

- Many intellectuals, artists, union authorities made speeches on the stage in Taksim Square. Dances took place and songs were sung.

 May 1, 2011 - Sunday

Taksim Square is opened with celebrations for the first time since 1977. Cheerful celebrations were all around the country.

Along Turkish songs, Kurdish and Armenian songs were also sung. Grup Yorum gave a mini concert with singing Şivan Perver’s song Herne Peş.

 Fenerbahçe ve Galatasaray fans walked together in Taksim.

A little fight broke out between the police and members of the popular front, as they were walking from Şişli to Taksim and the clock nearing to 12. It didn’t last long, as members of the popular front got past the searchpoint.

Protesters stated: “Without the police, today was a peaceful, cheerful May Day.”

May 1, 2010 - Saturday

Taksim Meydanı was opened to “demonstration” for the first time after 32 years. There were 3 roads leading up to Taksim: “Gümüşsuyu, Mecidiyeköy-Şişli ve Tarlabaşı Boulevards”.

Police watched the protesters go by, drinking ‘tea’.

Cumhuriyet Square in Batman province was opened to May Day celebration for the first time in 20 years.

Protesters in Ankara celebrated May Day in Sıhhiye Square.

May 1, 2009 - Friday

On 22 April 2009, May 1 is acknowledged as “Labour and Solidarity Day” and a holiday by the Parliament’s plenary session.

More than 5 thousand people celebrated May Day in Taksim. Plot committee ended celebrating at 13:30.

As speeches continued, police attacked those who wanted to join the celebrations from nearby alleys. However, a group coming from Kazancı Slope made it to the square.

While ÇHD stated that the apprehensions passed 400, Governor of Istanbul Muammer Güler said that 108 people were taken under custody.

 Approximately 300 riot control officers deployed water cannon to lead protesters away from Taksim Square.

A banner that read “Find the ones who shot from here on 1 May 1977” was put on the upper floors of The Marmara Hotel. Later, this banner was removed as it was pulled from lower windows.

Police deployed tear gas and water cannon to the group walking from Kurtuluş Street to Taksim Square.

The group in Ergenekon Street was scattered using tear gas.

Glasses of some stores were broken nearby Kurtuluş. Police threw back the rocks protesters threw and deployed tear gas.

Police fired into the air and upon the group in Kurtuluş. Tear gas was deployed to the stores and 40 people were taken under custody.

Police attacked the protesters with tear gas despite the Governor’s Office’s statement that tear gas will not be used.

Problems in transportation occured. Prior to May Day, Governor’s Office shut down the metro lines of Şişhane-Taksim, Mecidiyeköy-Taksim and Kabataş-Taksim funicular.

May 1, 2008 - Thursday

Governor of Istanbul Muammer Güler stated:“Transportation will be disabled and police will apply necessary measures on May 1”

Due to police’s heavy interventions unions stated that they will not go to Taksim. May Day was celebrated in alleys.

There was talk of labor groups going to Taksim with 100-150 people, however these groups gave up.

 Police deployed tear gas into patient’s deck in Şişli Etfal Hospital

 Police attacked to the group who was walking from Osmabey to Taksim with tear gas, kicking and baton. It is said that police attacked to everyone who shouted and opened banners nearby Şişli.

 Taksim and its nearby was surrounded by police and traffic was closed. Some citizens  told that police attacked with tear gas and baton.

Police attacked the groups in Harbiye with tear gas and panzers.

Police attacked the group that wanted to go to Taksim from Sıraselviler Street and scattered them. Also the group from Kazancı slope was scattered.

Police deployed tear gas and water cannon on the group that wanted to walk from Büyük Parmakkapı Street to Taksim.

Police surrounded DISK building. CHP Parliament Member Mehmet Ali Özpolat had a heart spasm, who previously said that he was affected by tear gas.

Police injured a citizen for possession of a lemon in his pocket. The citizen was sent to Taksim First Aid Hospital soon after.

cnnturk.com.tr stated that 505 were detained by the police.

It was said that approximately 1500 people were detained around Ali Sami Yen Stadium.

hurriyet.com.tr said that police attacked workers in Dolapdere and that nearly 40 was sent Şişli Etfal Hospital.

May 1, 2007 - Tuesday

Governor of Istanbul Muammer Güler stated: “We will not permit for celebrations in Taksim.”

Thousands of police surrounded Kazancı slope. After the negotations, Governor’s Office gave 500 people permission to celebrate in Taksim.

Police didn’t allow 1500 people waiting in Dolmabahçe to go to Taksim Square.

Anadolu Agency: “A total of 695 people were taken under custody, and 198 of them were women.”

Police attacked the group of 3 thousand people that started walking from Okmeydanı to Taksim. 

A fight broke out between the riot control and ESP and Rights and Liberty Front (HÖC) as they wanted to go to Taksim from Kasımpaşa. Police deployed tear gas and water cannon while protesters retaliated with rocks, slingshots and Molotov cocktails.

Police attacked the Cumhuriyet newspaper correspondent Alper Turgut with baton, kicking and tear gas.

Police fired tear gas to buildings of SDP in Feridiye Street and MMO in İpek Street. Ayşe Yılmaz, İHD officer, said: “People were stopped by the police and they couldn’t help the wounded since police placed barricades.

Görkem Yılmazer, editor of Jineps newspaper, was detained by the police as he wanted to go to Taksim

May 1, 2006 - Monday

Protesters in Istanbul met in Kadıköy in 3 corteges. Parties and groups such as DİSK, Confederation of Public Laborer’s Unions (KESK), Türk-İş, ÖDP, Emek Party (EMEP), Democratic Society’s Party (DTP), Socialist Democracy Party (SDP), Community centers, Union of Chambers of Architects and Engineers (TMMOB), Social Democrat People’s Party (SHP), Lambda İstanbul and Partizan.

 Law of Social Insurances, Anti-Terror Law ve nuclear plants Project are protested at the celebrations in Kadıköy.

Worker’s Party celebrated May Day at former Tüyap area, in Tepebaşı.

People celebrated May Day by starting to walk from Demirtepe and stopping at Tandoğan Square. . Police units on the ground and air stood by.

Many of the participants were injured by the police at searchpoints in Cumhuriyet gate in Izmir province.

Security measures were taken for May Day walk as 3 thousand people participated in Kocaeli province.

May 1, 2005 - Sunday

May Day celebrations started as four confederations collaborated in putting cloves to Kazancı Slope, Taksim. Nearly 100 thousand people participated in the celebrations that continued in İskele Square, Kadıköy. A little fight broke out between Communist Party of Turkey members (TKP) and Liberty and Solidarity Party members (ÖDP) after Kadıköy celebrations ended.

Police attacked 3 separate groups for starting an unauthorized demonstration in Taksim. 47 were detained.

Celebrations took place in Tandoğan Square in Ankara province.

Celebrations took place in İstasyon Square in Gaziantep province. Sharpshooters stood by, police took photos of protesters with many cameras.

Tensions rose between Democratic People’s Party (DEHAP), who wanted to go to Gündoğdu Square in Izmir province, and police who didn’t allow them.

Tensions rose between police and a group of nearly a thousand people who wanted to go to Dağkapı Square in Diyarbakır province.

7 people were taken under custody in Batman province.

May 1, 2004 - Saturday

As Türk-iş was celebrating May Day in Şişli of İstanbul, Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions (DİSK) ve Confederation of Rights and Workers Unions(Hak-İş) started walking from Saraçhane and celebrated in Yenikapı. 

(MA/HK/BAR/TP/BM/SD)