ISTANBUL
Women from various Tukish unions and professional organizations paid respect to the 36 people killed during the 1977 Labor Day shootings on Tuesday.
Members of the Women of Labor and Vocational Organization Platform gathered in front of the French Consulate in Istanbul and marched to Kazanci Street to lay carnations where 36 died in incidents that after unidentified gunmen fired on a 500,000-strong peaceful crowd on May 1 1977 in Taksim Square, the traditional gathering point for protests in Istanbul.
Aylin Ayarli, a member of the group, said they would be in Taksim Square on May 1 to commemorate women workers and all other workers, as the square is a symbol for Turkey’s labor force.
Taksim Square was closed to Labor Day gatherings until the government allowed rallies to take place in 2010, 2011 and 2012, but refused in 2013 because of construction work at the site.
This year, the government announced it will again not allow unions to march to the square and has instead allocated other sites in Istanbul.
englishnews@aa.com.tr
