BAKUR (NORTH KURDISTAN) –
ISTANBUL
After overcoming the fascist police barrier in Istanbul, Gemlik Marchers marched to Yoğurtçu Park chanting “Bê Serok jiyan na be” and “Bijî Serok Apo”.
The masses continue to march in Kadıköy for the Istanbul leg of the march to Bursa’s Gemlik district with the slogan “We are marching to Gemlik to defend freedom against isolation politics” led by the Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK), Democratic Society Congress (DTK), Tevgera Jinên Azad (TJA), Democratic Regions Party (DBP), Peoples’ Democratic Party and Federation of Prisoners’ Families Law Solidarity Associations (MED-TUHAD FED). First, the mass gathered on Serasker Street and marched towards Bahariye Street, while the march continues throughout Kadıköy.
Thousands march in Kadıköy
HDK Co-Spokespersons Esengül Demir and Cengiz Çiçek, DTK Co-Chair Bedran Öztürk, DBP Co-Chairs Saliha Aydeniz and Keskin Bayındır, HDP Co-Chair Pervin Buldan, HDP Provincial Co-Chairs İlknur Birol and Ferhat Encü, HDP MPs, Tevgera Jinên Azad- Free Women’s Movement (TJA) activists, Socialist Re-Liberation Party (SYKP), Socialist Party of the Oppressed (ESP), Revolutionary Party co-chairs and executives also took part.
Thousands of people spread all over Kadıköy and marched towards Bahariye Street despite the intense fascist police blockade. In the meantime, the fascist police blocked the group including the deputies and co-chairs and tried to prevent the march.
They marched with slogans
Overcoming the fascist police blockade and obstacle, thousands marched towards Kadıköy Boğa Statue chanting slogans such as “Shoulder to shoulder against fascism”, “Pressures cannot deter us”, “Biji berxwedana zindana”, “Isolation is broken, dungeons are empty”, Everywhere Gemlik, everywhere resistance”, “We will win if we resist” and HDP is the people, the people are here”.
‘Bijî Serok Apo’ slogans raised
Another group near the Bull Statue marched towards Çilek Street with slogans such as “Bijî Serok Apo”, “Selam selam selam to İmralı.”
MPs blockaded
The police blockaded the group of MPs standing on Serasker Street and kept journalists away from the area. The MPs were not allowed to leave the blockade for a while.
Marching to Yoğurtçu Park with slogans
The Gemlik Marchers, who spread all over the streets of Kadıköy, managed to overcome the fascist police obstacles one by one and marched with slogans embracing Peoples’ Leader Abdullah Öcalan. Thousands of people marched towards Yoğurtçu Park with the slogans “Selam selam selam to İmralı”, “Bê Serok jiyan na be”, “Everywhere isolation, everywhere resistance” and “Bijî Serok Apo.”
BURSA
Peoples’ Democratic Congress (HDK), Democratic Society Congress (DTK), Tevgera Jinên Azad – Free Women’s Movement (TJA), Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), The Bursa leg of the march led by the Democratic Regions Party (DBP) and the Mesopotamia Federation of Legal and Solidarity Associations of Families of Prisoners and Convicts (MED TUHAD-FED) with the slogan “We are marching to Gemlik to defend freedom against the politics of isolation” to draw attention to the isolation of PKK Leader Abdullah Öcalan has also started.
For about two weeks, actions and events were organized and announced in Çukurova, Aegean, Marmara and Kurdish provinces for the Great Gemlik March. Yesterday, thousands of people in Mersin, Adana, Izmir, Amed and Wan kicked off the Gemlik March despite the fascist police obstacles.
Today, the Great Gemlik March started in Istanbul, Yalova and Bursa. The masses from various provinces will come together in the area known as the Newroz Area in the Arabayatağı neighborhood of Bursa’s Yıldırım district and will march towards Gemlik. Before the march, the police set up checkpoints at the entrance and exit points of many provinces and districts and stated that they would not allow any demonstrations, marches or statements, citing the governorate’s ban.
Attempts by fascist police to prevent
The fascist police, who blockaded the Newroz Area, the area where the march will start, are trying to prevent people from entering the area by conducting General Information Screening (GBT) at many points leading to the area. It is learned that many HDP buildings in Bursa are also blockaded by the fascist police and it is forbidden to enter and exit the district office.
On the other hand, it is learned that in Gemlik district, which is the destination of the march, a large number of police officers blockaded HDP district office and locked the door, while in Inegol HDP district office was also blockaded by a large number of police officers who tried to prevent the mass gathering in front of the office.
People gathered
The masses started to gather near the Newroz Area designated for the march. While many people from Kestel, Nilüfer and Gürsu districts started to gather near the area, attempts are being made to prevent the masses from entering Bursa from Yalova. The fascist police, who also blockaded the place where the mass gathered, threaten to take hostages. Despite the obstruction, the mass is trying to come to the gathering area.
