Labor and democracy forces in Ankara came together to commemorate THKP-C leader Mahir Çayan and his friends who were murdered in Kılızdere 49 years ago.

Activists gathered in Karşıyaka Cemetery and after paying tribute to Mahir Çayan on his grave, visited Ulaş Bardakçı's grave.

The crowd, carrying banners with photographs of the revolutionaries murdered in Kızıldere, walked after the banner saying ‘We are getting strength from their legacy of struggle’ and ‘The history of resistance and revolutionary solidarity is our honour’.

Activists left red carnations on Çayan's grave and held a minute's silence.

Speaking at the commemoration, Ahmet Telli, poet and president of the Revolutionary ‘78s Federation: "Heroes are not icons, they are people who live after death and are transformed into living memories.”

HDP Istanbul MP Musa Piroğlu said: "The liberation struggle of the Kurdish people united to the Turkish democratic forces leaves no chance to this government. All the oppressed have an expectation: get side by side, get together and open our way. The words of those who fell in Kızıldere mean this today.”

Piroğlu added: "We will unite our struggle to accelerate the collapse of this power.”