Tens of thousands of workers and labourers, led by the Confederation of Revolutionary Trade Unions (DISK), the Confederation of Public Employees' Trade Unions (KESK), the Union of Chambers of Turkish Engineers and Architects (TMMOB), the Union of Turkish Dentists and the Turkish Medical Association (TTB), gathered in Saraçhane, Istanbul in the early hours of the morning.

The Turkish police deployed a large contingent against demonstrations to mark May Day in Istanbul. Despite a ban on assemblies at Taksim Square, trade unions, professional associations and political parties have called for gathering at the central square in Istanbul's city centre. Demonstrators have been trying to get through the cordoned-off access roads since the early morning. Many people have gathered in Saraçhane to walk together along the main road to Taksim. The demonstrators were attacked by the police with rubber bullets and tear gas, and numerous people were taken into custody.

There are many women among the demonstrators. Activists from the Kurdish Free Women's Movement (TJA) carry signs reading "No socialism without free women". The Women's Council of the DEM Party demonstrates with a banner reading "Women's uprising from 8 March to 1 May". A feminist group calls for a "fight against patriarchal capitalism". The student group Campus-Witches calls for joint resistance against the exploitation of women's bodies and labour. Kurdish youths shout "Bijî Serok Apo" (Long Live Leader Öcalan” and "Kurdistan will be the grave of fascism".

The co-chair of the DEM party, Tuncer Bakirhan, came to Saraçhane together with DEM deputies Pervin Buldan and Kezban Konukçu, EHP (Labour Movement Party) Chairperson Hakan Öztürk, the general secretary of the "We Will Stop Femicides" platform, Fidan Ataselim, and representatives of other organisations and called for a joint struggle.