Feminist Night March: 'Feminist rebellion is everywhere!'

"Feminist revolt is everywhere" (Photos: Evrim Kepenek / bianet)

Click to read the article in Turkish / Kurdish

Women gathered on the streets around İstiklal Avenue for the 19th Feminist Night March marking the Women's Day.

Chanting slogans, "World would be shaken if women became free," "There is no such thing as trustees but there are lesbians," "Jump, jump, the one who doesn't jump is Tayyip," hundreds of women then arrived at Sıraselviler Street, which leads to Taksim Square.

While the police didn't allow the women to gather on İstiklal Avenue, where the night march is traditionally held, they were allowed to demonstrate and read out a statement on Sıraselviler Street.

Peoples' Democratic Party (HDP) Co-Chair Pervin Buldan and women politicians from the HDP and the main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP) also attended the march.

After several announcements warning the women in Cihangir, Beyoğlu to disperse, police intervened in the crowd and detained several demonstrators.

Video: Nazan Özcan / bianet

"Feminist rebellion is everywhere!"

Women read out a statement in Turkish, Kurdish, Armenian and Arabic, which briefly says the following:

"Getting our strength from feminism, solidarity, being together on the streets despite everything, we are here at the 19th Feminist Night March on March 8 with our laughter, anger, rebellion and struggle! We are side by side, we are strong with our feminist struggle.

"A few days after we stood side by side with our enthusiasm, rebellion, solidarity last year, the pandemic suddenly changed our lives. While physical distances increased, inequalities rapidly deepened, hitting each of us in different ways. We remembered this crowd when we despaired. The strength of our solidarity has been our hope, our feminist struggle is our resistance.

"We know and recognize the efforts of patriarchy to assert dominance on us in every field, every opportunity, sometimes openly, sometimes mischievously. Feminism gives us the power to say 'No,' to lay claim to our lives, bodies and labor. With this power we get, we revolt in every field and put up a fight. We lay claim to our lives.

"We revolt against fathers, husbands, boyfriends, and male violence! The feminist revolt is at home, in the family!"

(EMK/EKN/VK)