Thousands Take Streets to Defend Marmara

İstanbul Kent Savunması and Kuzey Ormanları Savunması, two alternative urbanist organizations, have organized a demonstration in Istanbul’s Kadıköy district yesterday to remind the government that “they would defend Marmara” against construction projects. 

Several associations and environment advocated attended the demonstration from 11:30am local time yesterday. 

While the protest was supported by certain parliamentarian deputies such as Melda Onur, Mahmut Tanal, Sebahat Tuncel and Levent Tüzel, demonstrators changed slogans including “Rebellion, revolution, bicycle”, “AKP, Hands off from my protest” and “Don’t be silent, otherwise world will become concrete”. 

On the other hand, police took notice, blocking the protestor’s way at Kadıköy Square.  

“We take the streets again” 

A press statement has been read by Mücella Yapıcı, a prominent activist from Turkey’s Gezi Resistance in 2013. 

“We know that it is both the capital that cut the trees and make people work till death in offices. Marmara, the region of unplanned urban planning, is pushed towards doom for the second time. Not only here, all parts of the country is being sacrificed without blinking an eye. Here we are with what we produce. We take the streets again against what you are destroying.” 

Prof. Dr. Beyza Üstün, on other hand, said the following:

“They first arrested our water resources. It wasn’t enough, they went into ponds. Then they spread to mines and then to forests. It was still not enough, they are intending to construct a nuclear power plant now. They have filled up the waterfront in Yenikapı and Maltepe to exile us. But we won’t go there [for demonstrations]." (NV/BM)

* Click here to read the article in Turkish.