Hundreds in Istanbul to mark anniversary of Gezi Park Resistance

The demonstrations in 2013 started with a small group of environmentalists opposed to the cutting down of trees in a green area near Taksim Square.

Hundreds of people gathered in Istanbul responding to the call of the Taksim Solidarity to mark the 6th anniversary of the Gezi Park Resistance.

Eight people lost their lives as a result of police violence. The police gathered in front of TMMOB Chamber of Mechanical Engineers Istanbul Branch and did not allowed the activists to walk to Gezi Park. 

Istiklal Avenue and the lateral streets were closed off by police but activists underlined the importance and the hope risen by Gezi. 

The demonstrations in 2013 started with a small group of environmentalists opposed to the cutting down of trees in a green area near Taksim Square.

After a few days the demonstrations turned into a large and long wave of protests, with more than two million people participating.

Among the first to commemorate the anniversary Monday was artist Ferhat Tunc, who released a new video of his song "Find Me in June, Mother", in which he also remembers the  victims of the protests.

"The resistance that started as a reaction to this vandalism created hope with calls for freedom and democracy," Tunc said.