People have started to gather in Istanbul’s Kartal Square under the slogan “We will definitely win” and are blending the Newroz fire with the air of resistance. People of all ages are flocking to the Newroz grounds where slogans of resistance resound.

Crowds started filling the Kartal Square in the early hours of the morning to celebrate Newroz in Istanbul.

The square that hosts the Newroz celebrations have been under police blockade since last night and entrance to the grounds are done through two points.

People clad in traditional clothes of all colors arrive in the square with slogans and victory signs. Resistance songs played through the stage in the square have the people waiting at the entry points dancing Newroz halays.

The Newroz fire and slogans “We will prevail. Newroz pîroz be!” are projected through giant LED screens set up on the stage.

Banners reading “Can the parliament be controlled?” “Can the courts be controlled?” “Democratic Republic Without Presidents, Without Wars, Without States of Emergency and Without Rape”, “Women’s Resistance and Freedom Will Prevail” are hanged throughout the square and the people carry posters that read “No”.

Many women wearing yellow red and green can be seen throughout the square and people of all ages continue to come in. HDP members register ballot observers for the April 16 referendum via desks set up on the entrances. Vendors have set up stalls around the square and yellow red and green souvenirs are sold around the perimeter.

There are over 400 HDP members on duty in the square.

The police prevented the HDP members who wanted to enter the Newroz grounds in Istanbul to enter with the banners they were carrying. The group managed to cross the police barricade and enter the grounds.

The police attempted to take the banner HDP members were carrying on and prevent their entry to the grounds.

There was a commotion between the HDP members and the police, and the group crossed the police barricade and entered the grounds.

Two people were detained in the incident and HDP Beyoğlu District Co-chair Gülsen Biter’s finger was broken.