If you don’t already know, violence in Istanbul, Turkey is at an all-time high, as demonstrators battle it out against police who cracked down on an otherwise peaceful environmental protest.
What started out as a protest against plans to build a city park has turned into nationwide anti-government dissent – protestors say the Turkish government is becoming increasingly authoritarian.
They fear Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s Justice and Development Party (AKP) is trying to impose conservative Islamic values on the officially secular country and infringe on their personal freedoms, correspondents say.
Police have been increasingly brutal during the protests, gassing residents, injuring demonstrators, and hosing them down. And while more than 1,700 people have been arrested, protestors are getting the word out about the police and government brutality through social media, in an attempt to show the world the destruction of Turkish forces.
We stand with the brave protestors and send out support, love and strength across the pond.
See the frightening and insane photographs below:
