The Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP) is staging a rally in central Amed (Diyarbakır) today under the motto “We are the solution, no war, no exploitation”.

Thousands of people from Urfa, Antep, Adıyaman, Dersim, Batman, Siirt, Şırnak and Van are attending the rally, as well as representatives of the Free Women’s Movement (TJA), Peace Mothers Assembly, TUAY-DER, MEBYA-DER, MED-DER, TUHAD-FED, Roza Women’s Association, ÖHD, İHD, DİK, GÖÇ-DER, Dicle Fırat Journalists’ Association, 78’ers Association.

Speeches will be delivered by HDP co-chair Mithat Sancar, DTK (Democratic Society Congress) co-chair Berdan Öztürk and DBP (Democratic Regions Party) deputy Saliha Aydeniz.

Despite the police intervention in the sound system, the rally began with the Kurdish revolutionary anthem “Çerxa Şoreşê” and the slogans “We will resist and prevail” and “Bê Serok jiyan nabe” [No life without the leader].

While police units took action to seize a huge banner of Kurdish politician Aysel Tuğluk who has been imprisoned for almost six years, HDP MP Ömer Öcalan asked the police to retreat and HDP women did not allow the police to take the banner away.

Greeting and addressing the crowd, HDP Amed provincial co-chair Gülistan Atasoy said, “Amed is writing history once again, teaching a lesson to those waging a war, being hostile to women and resorting to isolation. Nothing can stand in the way of passion for freedom, as is proven by the people gathered here.”

Stressing that policies of war will not achieve results, Atasoy said, Repression will not intimidate us. Those who have failed to perceive this strong will so far are given a lesson once again here today. Amed is the hope for democracy. It is victory itself.”