İSTANBUL - Thousands of people flocked to Taksim Square despite the lock down due to the pandemic and the Governor's Office's ban on demonstrations. Scores were battered and taken into custody by the police.

 

Despite the governorship ban and the lock down, workers and laborers wanted to celebrate May Day by marching from all directions to Taksim. Blocking hundreds of people shouting their reactions and demands with banners and slogans, the police intervened harshly and detained hundreds of people. The city squares, which were banned due to restrictions, were filled with the slogans "Long live May 1". 

 

'WE ARE HERE TO TAKE BACK WHAT YOU HAVE STOLEN FROM US'

 

Dozens of protesters were detained in the police attacks on May Day marches that started from different points in Beyoğlu, Osmanbey and Mecidiyeköy. Members of the Youth Assemblies and Socialist Solidarity Platform marched from Mecidiyeköy on the direction of Taksim Square. Holding banners written, "We are here to take back what you have stolen from us' and "We will defeat fascism", were surrounded by the police in Mecidiyeköy, 19 people were detained by the police and taken to the police station while they were handcuffed from the back.

 

Youth Assemblies also marched towards Taksim Square, breaking through the police barricades in Galatasaray. Scores were detained by the police.

 

ESP'S TÜMÜKLÜ DETAINED

 

Police attacked the members of Limter-İş, İnşaat-İş, Dev Yapı-İş, Dev Turizm-İş, Young Workers Association and BİK while they marched towards Taksim Square with the slogan 'Everywhere is Taksim, everywhere is resistance'. ESp Co-chair Şahin Tümüklü was battered and detained by the police.

 

'REVOLUTION WILL CLEAN THIS MESS"

 

Readers of the League of Struggle marched from Sıraselviler Street to Taksim Square with a banner written, "Insistance on Taksim is insistance on revolution". All of the activists detained by the police.

 

4 Kaldıraç Journal readers were detained with the same banner, marching from Tarlabaşı Street to Taksim Square.

 

'BİJİ YEK GULAN'

 

The United Workers' Assembly also wanted to march from Mecidiyeköy Square to Taksim Square. Interfering with the crowd marching with the slogans "Bijî yek gulan", the police detained many people. About 10 members of the Revolutionary Anarchist Activity were detained while trying to get out of Taksim from Mecidiyeköy.

 

POLICE DRAGGED PEOPLE ON THE ROAD

 

Four women, members of the Independent Revolutionary Class Platform, were detained while trying to march to Taksim Square from Mecidiyeköy. Carrying banners written, "Long live May Day, long live socialism", the four women were dragged on the road and detained by the police.

 

New Democrat Youth (YDG) and 7 members of Partizan wanted to march from Mecidiyeköy Ortaklar Street to Taksim Square. Seven people who took place in Mecidiyeköy with the slogans "Victory will be of resisting workers" and "Bijî Yek Gulan" were beaten and detained by the police. The youth resisted with slogans until they were put in the police car.

 

Gathering in Dolmabahçe, Umut-Sen members wanted to march to Taksim Square. 20 people were detained by the police.