Turkey Protests: Watch The Taksim Square Live Stream

Turkey protests in Taksim Square by anti-government demonstrators are continuing in Istanbul.

Police are using riot gear, water cannons, tear gas, and rubber bullets in an attempt to clear the square from protesters. In retaliation, some activists hurled fireworks, fire bombs, and stones back at police. “On Tuesday night dozens of police were still engaged in running battles with jeering protesters in Taksim Square, firing volley after volley of teargas canisters in an attempt to drive them into side streets. Tensions remained extremely high as thousands of demonstrators streamed toward the city center and police reinforcements were sent in.”

The Turkey protests began on May 31 when police took violent action against a peaceful protest against the government’s plans to demolish Taksim Square and Gezi Park to make way for a shopping center. Since then, protests have spread from Istanbul to other areas of Turkey as the issue evoklved from Gezi Park to a general frustration with the hard-line policies of the government of Turkey. “The protests then widened, with demonstrators accusing Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s government of becoming increasingly authoritarian and trying to impose conservative Islamic values on a secular state.”

According to the Turkish Human Rights Foundation, to date four protesters have been killed. Additional estimates suggest that about 300 persons have been injured by tear gas and 50 hit by rubber bullets or gas canisters.

Erdogan has indicated that he will meet with the protester leaders tomorrow for negotiations but has previously insisted that “I am sorry but Gezi Park is for taking promenades, not for occupation. I invite all demonstrators, all protesters, to see the big picture and the game that is being played. Those who are sincere should withdraw. I expect this from them as their prime minister.”

Watch the Taksim Square protest live stream:

[top image credit: Bertilvidet]