[I would advise my readers to check back this post frequently]
update: 3 May 2010- 13:00
Famous actors Halil Ergün, Cem Özer, Tarık Akan had also attended the event. Habervesaire has published a good photo galery here.
Another gallery here.
Turkish Anarchists’ photos here.
Linux users were there, too: “Free Software for a Free World” via
Media welcomes joyful Turkish May Day
Finally in Taksim!
AYŞE KARABAT – May Day in Taksim Square as a beginning and as an end
MICHAEL KUSER – May Day, mayday, m?aider
Well, Bilgi U employees’ union was there, too…
Turkish PM takes credit for May Day in Taksim Square
In Istanbul, May Day marred by protests
Press TV
More than 200000 people celebrating May Day have gathered for the first time in 33 years in Istanbul’s Taksim Square, where dozens were killed decades ago.
FATMA DİŞLİ ZIBAK – A historic day at Taksim Square
update: 1 May 2010- 19:00
Just came back from Taksim. It was a peaceful and playful celebration in general. There are probably some minor incidents but things went smoothly.Our union (Bilgi University employees) also attended and ours was joyful, too. but most of us were first timers and I guess next year we might be more creative. Bilgi photos to come.
Turkish Press Scan for May 1
May Day rally in Istanbul’s Taksim Square draws thousands of laborers
Labour Day Finally Back in Taksim Square!
KLAUS JURGENS – Turkey celebrates May Day — much more than a symbolic event
Ultra-leftists march with their red flags
Ultra-leftists march with their red flags as tens of thousands of union workers gathered in Taksim Square in Istanbul, Turkey Saturday, May 1, 2010, in the first celebrations at the site since dozens of people died there in a May 1 gathering more than three decades ago. The celebrations marked a symbolic victory for the unions, which had been denied access to the transit hub since 1977, when at least 34 people died after shooting triggered a stampede. The culprits were never found, contributing to a mood of instability and conspiracy theories before a military coup in 1980.? Read more »
(AP Photo/Ibrahim Usta)
Workers hold placards with names of people
Workers hold placards with the names of the people who were killed 1977, as union workers gather in Taksim Square in Istanbul, Turkey, Saturday, May 1st, 2010, in the first celebrations at the site since dozens of people died there in a May 1 gathering more than three decades ago. The celebrations marked a symbolic victory for the unions, which had been denied access to the transit hub since 1977, when at least 34 people died after a shooting triggered a stampede. The culprits were never found, contributing to a mood of instability and conspiracy theories before a military coup in 1980.? Read more »
Tens of thousands gathered in Taksim Square
Tens of thousands of union workers gathered in Taksim Square in Istanbul, Turkey Saturday, May 1, 2010 in the first celebrations at the site since dozens of people died there in a May 1 gathering more than three decades ago. The celebrations marked a symbolic victory for the unions, which had been denied access to the transit hub since 1977, when at least 34 people died after shooting triggered a stampede. The culprits were never found, contributing to a mood of instability and conspiracy theories before a military coup in 1980.? Read more »
Even more photos here.
Demonstrators burn US flag
Demonstrators burn a US flag with a photo of Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the name of his Justice and Development Party, AKP, on it, during May Day celebrations in Ankara, Turkey, Saturday, May, 1, 2010. Tens of thousands of union workers gathered in Taksim Square in Istanbul Saturday in the first celebrations at the site since dozens of people died there in a May 1 gathering more than three decades ago. The celebrations marked a symbolic victory for the unions, which had been denied access to the transit hub since 1977, when at least 34 people died after shooting triggered a stampede. The culprits were never found, contributing to a mood of instability and conspiracy theories before a military coup in 1980.? Read more »
(AP Photo)
Before the event started police searched the square carefully. more photos of police preparations here.
A history of May 1 celebrations in Turkey with old photos here.
Thousands of Turks to mark first May Day in Istanbul’s Taksim square since …
Winnipeg Free Press
By: AP ISTANBUL – Thousands of union workers are marching toward Istanbul’s Taksim Square in the first celebrations at the site since dozens of people died
1969 | Bloody Sunday at Taksim, Istanbul
Bloody Sunday [1] (TR Kanlı Pazar) is the name given to a counter-revolutionary response to a leftist protest that occurred on February 16, 1969, in Istanbul’s Beyazıt Square, Turkey. A coup d’état in 1960 had allowed a group of Turkish military officers to take control of the country. Under this established government, labor tensions grew and anti-American sentiment rose. Elements of the Turkish left and labour movement were protesting against perceived American Imperialism. Protests increased after the United States Sixth Fleet arrived in Turkey. Unrest peaked on February 16, 1969, when 30,000 people marched on Taksim. The demonstration was broken up by the police, but several thousand continued the march towards Taksim. It was at this point that a counter-revolutionary force attacked a large group of these protesters with knives and sticks. During this confrontation, two protesters, Ali Turgut and Duran Erdogan, were killed.
In pictures
1977 | May 1st Taksim, Istanbul
The Taksim Square massacre relates to the incidents on 1 May, 1977, the international Labour Day on Taksim Square in Istanbul, Turkey.
more photos here.
Finally, the authorities allow workers to celebrate the Labor Day at Taksim square as in the very old days. In one of the shameful days of Turkey’s history, in 1 May 1977, possibly right-wing deep-state related agents shot at demonstrators and 34 died and 136 wounded in the ensuing chaos. Since then Taksim Square is not allowed to celebrate the Labor Day and every year police clash with left-wing activist. ..About the Bloody Labor Day check the wikipedia site in Turkish.
The police prepares for the Taksim meeting. Many famous artists are attending the meeting in Taksim. In English here.
This is one of the most popular 1 May imageries from the 1 May 1977
update: 1 May 2010- 02:00
Acknowledge Women’s “Invisible Labour” on 1 May!
Labor Day and Taksim Square
May Day Special: Eat Union!
(Editor?s Note: Our celebration of the upcoming May Day workers? holiday continues. Today we take a look at the dining possibilities at two union halls, Istanbul style.)
16,500 policemen will be in charge.
May Day could be celebrated in Istanbul’s Taksim
22,000 Policemen in Taksim for a ‘Peaceful 1 May’
The Governor of Istanbul engaged more than 22,000 policemen for 1 May. Union representatives will be at the check points. Six union confederations will gather at Taksim square after a converging demonstration. The whole area will be closed to traffic.
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