Uploaded June 2013 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
On the night of June 12 I spent 90 minutes in Taksim Square aka Geti among the protestors and the extensive police units. Hard hats and respirators or masks were de rigueur for the evening attire. Street vendors took opportunities and sold the protestors protective gear as well as roasted chestnuts and semit. You gotta keep your strength up at the demonstration! The tension was beginning to build a bit and I have been tear gassed twice in my life - May 1972 in Washington DC and again 25 years later in Quito. Unpleasant. So I hightailed it back to my comfortable hotel room and wished everyone good luck. Freedom of assembly is an important right.
On the night of June 12 I spent 90 minutes in Taksim Square aka Geti among the protestors and the extensive police units. Hard hats and respirators or masks were de rigueur for the evening attire. Street vendors took opportunities and sold the protestors protective gear as well as roasted chestnuts and semit. You gotta keep your strength up at the demonstration! The tension was beginning to build a bit and I have been tear gassed twice in my life - May 1972 in Washington DC and again 25 years later in Quito. Unpleasant. So I hightailed it back to my comfortable hotel room and wished everyone good luck. Freedom of assembly is an important right.
