The Gezi Park protests began as part of a longstanding campaign against the destruction of the park, one of the last green spaces in central Istanbul, as part of the redevelopment of the Taksim area. It was started as a small sit-in to protect the park and trees, at dawn on 30th May 2013, police forces entered the park with pepper gases and used excessive force. The denial of their right to protest and the violence used by the police touched a nerve and a wave of anti-government demonstrations swept across Turkey.
The Gezi Park protests began as part of a longstanding campaign against the destruction of the park, one of the last green spaces in central Istanbul, as part of the redevelopment of the Taksim area. The plans include the building of a replica 19th century Ottoman barracks,Topçu Kışlası, and said by the Prime Minister to include the construction of a shopping centre and mosque. It was started as a small sit-in to protect the park and trees, at dawn on 30th May 2013, police forces entered the park with pepper gases and used excessive force. The denial of their right to protest and the violence used by the police touched a nerve and a wave of anti-government demonstrations swept across Turkey. Millions of people took to the streets and joined the protests at Ankara, Izmir and many other cities additinal to Istanbul. Thousands of people injured, thousands were arrested and eight were killed.