11 years have passed since the Gezi Resistance.
11 years ago, a vast segment of society rose up against the AKP government. The anger and resistance of millions turned into a great mass movement. By putting enlightenment, secularism, freedom, and working class patriotism at the center of the resistance, the people managed to draw the line to the AKP government. And through their fury and courage, people reminded AKP of who really owns this country.
The Gezi Resistance left an indelible mark on this country. The people realised their power that they have when they do not bow down and it has created a hope that will not be forgotten, even if years pass. This is the source of the fear instilled by the Gezi resistance in the AKP and the entire system.
People did not bow down and thus realized they are a people.
This system fears the organization of the people, their acting together and their being the people. Therefore, it was not only the AKP that attempted to settle scores with Gezi or erase its memory over the past 11 years. Undoubtedly, the AKP has never stopped trying to put the Gezi on trial and remove its legitimacy, but all the actors within the bourgeois politics has considered erasing the traces of the Gezi one by one as their duty. We have left 11 years behind, and at this point, our people are condemned to live with inflation and poverty in the deepest way. The political system, both the ruling party and the opposition, ensures the growth of capital while offering austerity as a solution to the people. They are all together legitimizing the capitalists. The resistance and anger of the people who challenged AKP’s Turkey 11 years ago and opposed such a Turkey are being subdued with false hopes and empty promises of a better future.
We stand against this dark and rotten system that engulfs our country and the entire world. The Gezi Resistance is, by its very name, a people’s resistance. As we salute the 11th anniversary of Gezi, we also salute the resisting Palestinian people who do not bow down to Israel’s barbaric attacks.
We need more Gezi’s where the working people rise again to save this country from imperialists, exploiters, and religious sects.
If people are the people as long as they resist, today, what we need more than ever is to become a people.
Once again, we salute those who did not and will not bow down.