Women from İzmir Say We Won’t Obey

Click to read the article in Turkish

Coming in front of Leman Cultural Center in Alsancak, İzmir for March 8 march, women took their place behind a banner reading "Women will gain equality, freedom, secure job, secularism and peace" prepared by İzmir Women's Platform.

A large number of police officers blocked the street and preventing women from marching to Türkan Saylan Cultural Center on the ground that the march was not granted permission.

Chanting slogans "We won't remain silent, we are not afraid, we won't obey", "Long live women's solidarity", "Long live March 8", "Women will not remain silent anymore", women shouted at the police "Open, open, open the road".

The women wearing aprons reading “attendant” linked their arms standing between the group and police to provide the security.

The written statement for the press read out in Turkish and Kurdish read:

“We, the women who say ‘no’ to strongman, advocate peace, equality, freedom, justice; defend life over harassment, rape, violence, patriarch, State of Emergency and statutory decrees, will not remain silent, will not fear, will not obey.

"We will raise our voice of demand for peace against war. We are here for equality, freedom, peace, a secular life without violence and the State of Emergency". (Gİ/HK/TK)