The protest in Istanbul is on its Day 12 today, June 11. With all the days that had passed, two things were consistent. One, the Istanbul protesters were peaceful protesters. And two, violence happens in the night upon the police's intervention.

The Peaceful Protesters

Anti-Capitalist Muslims, a group that had been participating in the Gezi Park resistance since day 1 conducted their Friday prayers at the park. The Friday prayers ended with funeral prayers dedicated to the two young men who had lost their lives during the resistance. The group also offered prayers for the policeman who also died in an accident as he performed his duty chasing after the protesters. To ensure that the prayer ceremony was safe from any violent intervention, the group was surrounded through a circle by radical left parties.

The Muslim Women Against Violence Towards Women peacefully marched from Kabatas to Gezi park to show their support for the Gezi Park resistance. They also aimed to make the public aware about the attacks happening to Muslim women. Through leaflets they were distributing, they expressed that "We. Muslim women taking part in the resistance, now that some women wearing headcarves have been subjected to attacks in various neighborhoods of Istanbul since the beginning of Gezi resistance. We are concerned with the attacks in other neighborhoods, while we note that there has been not a single case of harassment at Gezi Park." On the other hand, their banners shouted, "Taksim is ours, The Street is ours."

Interestingly, more children had been frequenting the Gezi Park to attend various creative workshops being held. Through a projector screen, the Gezi Workshop for Children was being shown every day at noon since June 8.

There were at least four libraries set up at Gezi Park, two of which - Chapulcan and Chapulnaz - were libraries for children.

Also, there were workshops for adults such as the "Guerilla Seed" workshop, media workshop, dance workshops "for a different body experience" and Greenpeace Turkey's "nonviolent action" workshop - all these happened on June 8. All vehicles and workshop equipments brought in the park were all painted with the charming colour of pink.

Greenpeace had also set-up an oven which was solar powered to make free crepes for the Istanbul protesters. There were also group of scientists who allotted a budget for a solar panel which protesters can use to charge their laptops and mobile phones.

Different medical and educational groups had also set up tables where all protesters can ask about education and health issues. The groups were the Chapulcu Classroom and Chapulcu Education and Research Hospital.

Wonderfully, there was a group of hairdressers who extend support to the Gezi Resistance by offering free haircuts to the Istanbul protesters.

Gezi Park became the hub of people with or without political affiliations, but there was only one rule that should be followed as written in one banner: The Rules of Gezi park Protest, 1st Rule, you must talk about Gezi Park. 2nd rule: You MUST talk about Gezi Park.

Meanwhile, one group marching to Taksim Square had this call: We are living through and witnessing a reclamation that started in Istanbul and is closely watched by the whole wolrd. Regardless of differences in their political views, ethnic belonging, religious and sectarian belonging, sexual orientation and age, people have reclaimed Gezi Park and its trees which belong to all Istanbul. We will not surrender our neighborhoods which we have built with our own labor and inhabited for many years. We will not surrender them to profit driven agendas discussed as "urban transformation" or "risk management."

As the sun set and darkness shrouded the park, police came again and drive passed the barricades of the Istanbul protesters.