Istanbul park protesters stand firm
- 11 years ago
A game of volleyball in the park.
Protesters got some recreation and rest Sunday morning as they dug in at Istanbul's Gezi Park.
What started as a campaign against development plans in the Turkish city has erupted into a much larger anti-government demonstration that has also spread to other cities.
Anger has increased with police crackdowns on the protesters, many of who are now calling for Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's resignation.
(SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) PROTESTER, DENIZ, SAYING:
"People have met under a beautiful umbrella. We have united not only against the state. Everybody here wants their freedom and I believe that with this solidarity everybody will win the freedom that they deserve."
On Friday, Erdogan called for an immediate end to the protests but gave no indication of plans to clear the downtown area.
He has made clear he has no intention of stepping aside - pointing to his AK Party's 50 percent of the vote in the last election.
Protesters got some recreation and rest Sunday morning as they dug in at Istanbul's Gezi Park.
What started as a campaign against development plans in the Turkish city has erupted into a much larger anti-government demonstration that has also spread to other cities.
Anger has increased with police crackdowns on the protesters, many of who are now calling for Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan's resignation.
(SOUNDBITE) (Turkish) PROTESTER, DENIZ, SAYING:
"People have met under a beautiful umbrella. We have united not only against the state. Everybody here wants their freedom and I believe that with this solidarity everybody will win the freedom that they deserve."
On Friday, Erdogan called for an immediate end to the protests but gave no indication of plans to clear the downtown area.
He has made clear he has no intention of stepping aside - pointing to his AK Party's 50 percent of the vote in the last election.