Sarah Taqvi Taqvi,S - STORY 1 Rally for Turkish People, Against Turkish Government June 19, 2013 Budget

line: Rally for Turkish People, Against Turkish Government Sources: Katie Feyh Member of the International Socialist Organization o Phone: 512.584.1578 o Email: katyusha1@gmail.com o Date(s) contacted: 6/8/13 o We discussed the goals and background of this rally. Rob Jackson Member of the Austin community o Email: R.Jackson.now@gmail.com o Date contacted: 6/8/13 o We discussed what the Turkish people want from their government. Eslerh Orsete Member of the Austin community o Email: Ezlerh@gmail.com o Date contacted: 6/8/13 o We discussed the overall purpose of the rally. Lorraine Villegas Member of the Austin community o Email: l_villegas85@yahoo.com o Date contacted: 6/8/13 o We discussed what the general public needs to know about the situation in Turkey. Invisible sources/web sites used: The Daily Beast o URL: http://www.thedailybeast.com/articles/2013/05/31/istanbul-erupts-inviolence-after-protests-against-razing-of-gezi-park.html o Date accessed: 6/9/13 o Got information on the background of the general conflict. NPR o URL: http://www.npr.org/blogs/parallels/2013/06/05/188935332/in-turkeyprotesters-proudly-call-themselves-looters o Date accessed: 6/9/13 o Got information on the characteristics of the protestors. Aljazeera o URL: http://www.aljazeera.com/programmes/insidestory/2013/06/20136365255648 869.html o Date accessed: 6/9/13

Got information on the position of the government and Prime Minister on the protests.

Three ideas for follow-up stories: The status of Taksim Square, the demolition of Gezi Park The future of Recep Tayyip Erdogan and the Justice & Development Party The movements in Turkey and the Arab Spring

More than 60 people gathered near the Capitol on Saturday to protest the Turkish governments violent repression of dissent and call for more attention to the issue. The Austin Rally in Solidarity with #OccupyGezi, included families, UT students and seven speakers all showing their support for a movement among Istanbuls residents to save Gezi Park from being torn down and overthrow Turkeys Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Islamic-leaning Justice & Development Party. Ralliers held signs that included, Stop police brutality in Turkey, Shame on Turkish media and No bloodshed and teargas bombs. Prime Minister Erdogan has admitted that mistakes were made by the Turkish government on handling the protestors with tear gas, cannons, and batons by Turkish police. But he is also accusing opponents of using the initial protest over the park to cause a further unrest within Turkey. According to Erdogan and his party, there has been no decision settled yet for the shopping center, and at this point it may very well be a city museum or a venue for different activities. "Have you got any documents about what will be built there? Erdogan says. No, but they bring people to protest anyway." One of the participants in Saturdays event, Rob Jackson, suggests rather that Turkish media have not given the events enough coverage. There is a media blackout or just gross underreporting, and human rights violations happening left and right all across Turkey, Jackson said. So without the proper

coverage, the Turkish government doesnt really have any incentive to slow down or stop it. Solidarity protests have still broken out in several U.S. cities, including Boston, New York, Chicago and Austin, on behalf of the International Socialist Organization, which has attempted to create awareness of the issue. ISO member Katie Feyh said there were three specific audiences the Austin branch of ISO wanted to target with this rally. One audience, according to Feyh, is the Turkish protestors themselves who take heart from messages of solidarity and demonstrations worldwide. The second audience is the Austin community- those who may not be as aware of whats happening in Turkey, because its what she considers not as reported on as the Arab Spring or covered with the same kind of urgency. And the final target audience is the Austin Turkish community. We wanted to show that we are interested in human rights, democracy, and standing up for freedom just as they are, Feyh said. They dont have to be just at Taksim Square to be able to stand up against their government. Austinite and protestor Lorraine Villegas suggests that if anything should be taken away from such rallies, it should be global togetherness. I hope that our brothers and sisters in Turkey can understand that we need to rise together, Villegas said, because global powers are governing the world right now, and as they are connected, we are rising and we are connected. Protestors said it is important for the public to stay informed about this issue.

Contact the embassy or the local media outlets and tell them to stop ignoring whats happening out there, Jackson said. Just get your voices heard.