The Taksim Square in Istanbul's central Beyoğlu district has been cordoned off by police in the run-up to Workers' Day on 1 May. All access routes have been closed off with metal barriers. As every year, there is a ban on demonstrations in the square where a massacre took place on 1 May 1977. Only a delegation from the Confederation of Revolutionary Workers' Unions (DISK) was allowed to lay a wreath at the Monument to the Republic. DISK President Arzu Çerkezoğlu said: "Today is the international day of unity, struggle and solidarity of the working class. Not only in our country, all over the world, on five continents, the working class, those who produce all the values and beauties in this world, are in the squares with their demands and struggle goals. We have come here today as the DISK Executive Committee to lay a wreath. From here we will go to Maltepe."

The central May Day rally in Istanbul takes place in the Maltepe district. Demonstrators who wanted to go to Taksim despite the ban were attacked by the police and dozens of people were taken into custody. Journalist Zeynep Kuray was also violently detained, although she identified herself as a journalist.

On 1 May 1977, a massacre took place in Taksim Square. Well over 500,000 people from different provinces of the country took part in the Labour Day demonstration organised by DISK. Many of them had not even entered the square when the first shots were fired. The security forces then attacked with armoured vehicles, firing gas grenades and using water cannons. The number of victims is still a controversial issue; according to official figures, 34 people were killed and about 200 injured, while left-wing organisations speak of 37 dead. Some people remained lying on the spot, others ran away, were crowded into corners and run over by the armoured vehicles. More than 500 people were detained during the course of the crackdown.