PHOTOS: Turkey’s protests grow as labor unions join

Photos by: Oren Ziv/Activestills.org

PHOTOS: Turkey's protests grow as labor unions join
Members of workers unions march into Taksim Square during a strike organized by the left-wing unions, Istanbul, June 4, 2013.

Protests continued in Istanbul’s Gezi Park and Taskim Square amid intense use of tear gas and other forms of excessive force by Turkish police forces. Left-wing labor unions on Tuesday joined the protests, which began on May 28 over plans to redevelop Gezi Park but have spread to other cities and have expanded to address the Turkish government’s increasingly authoritarian policies. Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bulent Arinc has apologized for police tactics, saying, “the use of excessive force shown against the people who initially started this protest with the motive of protecting the environment was wrong. And it was unfair. So I apologise to those citizens.” However, Prime Minister Tayyip Erdogan accused the protesters of being “arm-in-arm with terrorism.” As of this writing, two protesters have been shot dead by police, while hundreds have been injured.

PHOTOS: Turkey's protests grow as labor unions join
Protestesrs run as police fire tear gas at anti-government activists, on the road between Taksim Square and Bashiktash Stadium, early morning June 4, 2013.

 

PHOTOS: Turkey's protests grow as labor unions join
Protesters and medics carry an injured man on the road between Taksim Square and Bashiktash Stadium, early morning June 4, 2013.

 

PHOTOS: Turkey's protests grow as labor unions join
A protester puts plastic wrap on the face of another protester to protect from police tear gas during anti-government protests, early morning June 4, 2013.

 

PHOTOS: Turkey's protests grow as labor unions join
Protesters shout slogans along a barricade on the road between Taksim Square and Bashiktash Stadium, early morning June 4, 2013.

 

PHOTOS: Turkey's protests grow as labor unions join
Protesters evacuate their injured friend as police fire tear gas in the road between Taksim Square and Bashiktash Stadium, Istanbul, Turkey, June 3, 2013.

 

PHOTOS: Turkey's protests grow as labor unions join
A protester wears a helmet and riot shield of a policeman in Taksim Square, Istanbul, Turkey, June 3, 2013.

 

PHOTOS: Turkey's protests grow as labor unions join
Turkish youth march near Taksim Square during an anti-government protest, in central Istanbul, Turkey, June 3, 2013.

 

PHOTOS: Turkey's protests grow as labor unions join
A protester waves a Turkish flag in Taksim Square, Istanbul, Turkey, June 3, 2013.

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Last Metro to Taksim, part 1: Among the debris
Last metro to Taksim, part 2: Day
Last Metro to Taksim, part 3: Enter night
PHOTOS: Demonstrators occupy Istanbul’s Taskim Square