In İstanbul, trade union confederations DİSK and KESK and professional organisations TMMOB and TTB have decided to celebrate May Day in Bakırköy’s Halk Pazarı Square this year. Necessary permits were acquired after talks with the İstanbul Governorate.

The call for “A united and massive May 1” by the 4 organisations was supported by HDP and HDK constituent parties and Partizan, EMEP, Halkevi, CHP and Birleşik Haziran Hareketi (United June Movement) and they have also issued calles for Bakırköy.

HDP İstanbul Branch and HDK Provincial Coordination emphasized a united fight and called their members to Bakırköy against AKP/Palace fascism.

ESP İstanbul Chair Çiçek Otlu expressed that they proposed May 1 celebrations be held in Taksim Square in the meeting with the trade unions, political parties and professional organisations, adding, “But the preference was towards Bakırköy. So, we as the ESP will be in Bakırköy to expand the united struggle.”

EMEP Chair Selma Gürkan also said they will stand with workers and unionists to have the 2016 May Day celebrated as massively as possible.

Halkevleri Chair Oya Ersoy said, “Due to poor management of the process by opposition centers, primarily political centers, Bakırköy (İstanbul) and Kolej (Ankara) have stood out as the preference of the progressive labor organisations and we as the Halkevleri have decided to stop this discussion until May 1 and comply with this preference.”

United June Movement constituent ÖDP’s Council of Chairs member Alper Taş stressed that celebrating May 1 does not mean giving up on Taksim and added: “At this point, what we need to do is not a discussion for location. We believe a massive and strong voice in Bakırköy will act as a lever to elevate the voice of the workers’ movement in the coming process.”

MARCH FROM TWO ROUTES

Two routes have been chosen for the march for the celebrations in Bakırköy’s Halk Pazarı Square. The workers will meet in Marmara Forum and E-5 highway’s İncirli side and march to the rally grounds.

The rally will take off with confederations presidents giving speeches at 13.00. HDP Co-chair Figen Yüksekdağ will also be attending the rally.

Institutions including KESK, TMMOB, TTB, ESP, HDP, Partizan and EMEP will take part in the march from Marmara Forum.

DİSK, United June Movement and CHP will be in the march from E-5 İncirli side.

Mücadele Birliği (Struggle Unity), Kızılbayrak (Red Flag), Halk Cephesi (People's Front), Alınteri (Elbow Grease) and Devrimci Anarşist Faaliyet (Revolutionary Anarchist Activity) have issued calls for Taksim Square.

ISTANBUL WILL BE UNDER POLICE OCCUPATION

With a decree from the Ministry of Interior Affairs, İstanbul will be under police occupation again on the May Day. 15 thousand police units, 3 helicopters and 120 riot control vehicles have been deployed already against May 1 events.

6 of the 15 thousand police units will be in the rally in Bakırköy’s Halk Pazarı.