London and Revolution: Crowds chant "NO VIOLENCE", 1st of June by Ozlem Altuner

Hyde Park- Marble Arch

When we first heard the Revolution news in Turkey, we all thought that was unreal and the demonstrations would end in one or two days. Yet, we now know that Revolution is really happening. Turkish nation is not scared any longer from its government and its state.

Many Turkish people, together with others from all around the world, gathered together in Marble Arch on Saturday. Everyone was in joy, waving their flags, chanting marches, singing, and even dancing. British policemen were posing with Turkish kids, and their parents, a huge smile on everyone’s face. The atmosphere of enthusiasm was everywhere, people were feeling very brave, they were starting to believe in humanity, and the future.

One important thing about this Revolution is that, it is absolutely against violence. All groups, even football fans (arch enemies from Galatasaray-Fenerbahce-Besiktas) were together, stating their feelings while hugging each other. All groups, and political parties got together for telling the dictator to step down.

All groups who supported a peaceful resistance were welcome in this demonstration. When there was a group from PKK with their flags with their leader Abdullah Ocalan, they were not accepted in this picture. There were many Kurdish people that day at Marble Arch. But why the PKK supporters were not accepted? 

The reason was their insistence on using violence as a means for resistance. Kurdish people, together with Turkish believe in the change in Turkey. However, using violence has caused nothing but more problems in Turkey throughout its history. Both Turkish and Kurdish people have lost many of their friends, and families due to that type of understanding. Now this resistance shows that as long as you resist peacefully, you are welcome among them. People of Turkey do not tolerate violence whether it is coming from Turkish, Kurdish, police or even from their Prime Minister. Now, we are seeing a great change in Turkey. A civilian resistance from all classes, all backgrounds, all ideologies are joining in harmony in order to stop the violence.