Police in Istanbul unleashed tear gas and water cannons Friday in an effort to disperse thousands of protestors demonstrating against the government. One onlooker captured the chaos from a vantage point above the fray and uploaded the footage to YouTube, seen above.
At least 100 people were injured in Friday's clashes, per Reuters. Hundreds of peaceful protesters flocked to Istanbul's historic Gezi Park to protect it from demolition four days ago. The demonstrations have now escalated in size and scope, with thousands of protestors airing a wide array of grievances against Turkey's Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Protestors and journalists at the scene have shared harrowing tweets and images of police cracking down on the protests, calling international attention to the situation with the hashtag #OccupyGezi. Taksim Square, near Gezi, has long been a focal point for political protests, inviting comparisons to Egypt's Tahrir Square.
Hello world, support us by sending messages with photos, hold some banners. Let us fill Gezi Park with the world. #occupygezi— Memet Ali Alabora (@memetalialabora) May 30, 2013
Calling out to the international community. Please support our cause #occupygezi The government wants to demolish Gezi Park to build a mall.— Defne Halman (@DefneHalman) May 30, 2013
Fotaza de una manifestante turca frente a un antidisturbios (vía #occupygezi): twitter.com/pmarsupia/stat…— Principia Marsupia (@pmarsupia) May 31, 2013
Spraying tear gas at a protester in #Istanbul. His sign reads "Chemical Tayyip" for Recep Tayyip Erdogan: twitter.com/cerncaycisi/st…— Benjamin Harvey (@BenjaminHarvey) May 31, 2013
Like so many other residents of Istanbul, I got tear gassed on my way to the office. imagine NYC cops gassed Times Square on a daily basis.— Ivan Watson (@IvanCNN) May 31, 2013
Turkish TV channels are mute and mainstream media are muzzled when it comes to police brutality in Gezi Park in Istanbul. #occupygezipark— ASLI TUNC (@aslitunc) May 31, 2013
Another video shows a protestor apparently challenging a police water cannon truck:
Erdogan recently made a series of controversial decisions inspired by religion, which have alarmed secularists, minority groups and democracy advocates:
"Turkey needs your help! Support us to stop Recep Tayyip Erdogan's fascist dictatorship! Stop police cruelty! #occupygezi @cnn @bbcnews "— Elif Tanverdi (@cizenbayan) May 31, 2013
#erdogan gov't spraying teargas on its own citizens & locking subway doors on them #direngeziparki @bbcworld this is NOT democracy!— Sanuber (@sanuber) May 31, 2013
@bbcworld @bbcworldservice It's not just about the park anymore, people. This is about Erdogan becoming a dictator and ignoring the people.— Gijs Witdouck (@harpoonfish) May 31, 2013