Turkish Police on the side of Israel attacks anti-Israeli rally!
July 31, 2006

While Israel rains bombs on the people of Palestine and Lebanon, the Turkish police attack its own citizens who want to show their solidarity for Lebanese and Palestinian people. Over 1000 people who were demonstrating against the brutal Israeli attacks started chanting, “Turkish Police, Don’t mistake your place! Don’t Work for Israel!” when the police positioned themselves to attack the crowd. Many of the marchers demanding a stop to Israel’s genocide were women and children. Tens of people were reported to be hurt or injured with either the tear gas bombs or police batons. Even after the crowd dispersed, the police chased the marchers carrying many Palestinian and Lebanese flags and beat those they could corner. The observers on the scene said the police did not arrest the demonstrators but instead kicked and beat them for a long time.

Heeding a call to expose Israel’s war crimes, more than 1000 people gathered at the most popular and crowded center in Istanbul. The call was initiated by the left wing and labor oriented organizations such as Alinteri-Sweat, BDSP, Social Democratic Party, Divrigi Cultural Center, Peoples Houses, HKP, No to Occupation Coalition, and SODAP. The rally turned into a march with the leading banner reading, “We will not be the foot soldiers of the USA or Israel!”

When the marchers were blocked by the police, they turned the march into a sit-in. The police after an hour attacked the demonstrators sitting peacefully without any warning at all. The cops attacked first with gas and pepper gas bombs and started beating women, children and all demonstrators. The marchers tried to protect themselves with the placards and banners they were carrying. This time police brought the tanks on the civilians! A breakaway group running away from the police went and stopped traffic in another central part of Istanbul.

Another group which gathered behind the police barricades also marched in defiance and pushed to get to the Taksim Square. Police then started attacking both parties. Even in the face of this brutal attack, the marchers dispersed into side streets but continued demonstrating against Israel, the US and the Turkish government and the police.

Having chased the crowd into the side streets, the police started attacking people who had Palestinian or Lebanese flags on the streets. Those who were caught were beaten barbarically and the Turkish police confiscated the flags. At an incident in Odakule, tens of special security police caught a youth who resisted surrendering his Palestinian flag to the police and they kicked and brutally assaulted him. They were only able to capture the Palestinian flag by tearing the flag out of his hands.

In the meantime, undercover police in civilian clothing, gathered wooden sticks from nearby construction sites, chased, and beat the marchers with the sticks to help the uniformed cops.

Sendika.org
Photo: Atilim