Istanbul, Turkey Days of Protests: Day 7, Touching Bits and Pieces amidst Chaos
For seven days in a row, Istanbul, Turkey, had been making headlines for the chaos happening in the streets. The tireless protestors continue to double, triple in number despite the police use of excessive force.
The protesters aim to win this battle cry. They continue to persist and overcome all difficulties. Their passion is fueled by small touching moments that kept their candles burning for the fight.
For day 7 of the protest, the community kitchen prepared free and warm breakfast for everyone. Like a family, they eat all together at the Gezi Park where the protest started seven days ago.
Although there were still barricades at Gezi Park and in places like Siraselviler and Gumussuyu, the spirit of protest became contagious at the Kanyon Shopping Mall. The zealous protesters were able to talk to the customers in cafes like Starbucks and Kitchenette to join the fight. Minutes after, the café customers were already chanting the protests slogans against their government. Some people stepped out of the cafes and join the crowd.
Meanwhile at the airport, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan was confidently giving his statement to the press before flying to a business trip to North Africa. The prime minister went about telling that the protests were organised by his rivals in politics. Mr Erdogan was confident that the media black-out in Turkey was so much in effect that press will take his words for what was happening.
However, one brave correspondent from Reuters, Birsen Altayli, told him bluntly that the protesters were comprised of housewives and high school students who did not belong to any political affiliation. He was the very first journalist to ask the prime minister unswervingly.
At the same time, a large number of protesters surround the local news network NTV and Habertuk. Protesters confronted the two television networks why they still choose to air pro-government reports about the protests. They call on to all employees of the networks to join them and tell the world what was really happening. In an unexpected turn of events, employees of the networks started to come out of the building and join the protests.
The indescribable effect of the spirit of protest did not just affect the people in the news industry. The cast and crew of the local television series The Magnificent Century called for pack-up and altogether visited the Gezi Park to boost the morale of those in protest.
The seven-day long protest was tiring both physically and emotionally. Those participating cannot be blame if they turn to alcohol to boost their strength to face the violence inflicted by the police. However, officials from the infirmary announced that alcohol consumption stalls blood donation for those injured protesters needing blood transfusion. Also, doctors were having hard time giving medicines or treating those injured who consumed alcohol. Everyone heed the announcement. They now rely just on their raw strength to win this fight.
Come this afternoon, the community kitchen announced that it is running out of food supply. But before the nighttime comes, the people were able to bring in more supplies and keep the kitchen working.