TORONTO – A gay pride rally in Turkey’s capital turned violent this past Sunday after police used rubber bullets, tear gas, and water cannons on demonstrators gathered in Istanbul’s Taksim Square.
It was a particularly bad end for one demonstrator after Turkish police unleashed a high-powered water cannon, blowing him off his feet and sending him tumbling down the road.
Between 100 and 200 pride protesters were chased away from Taksim Square as they began gathering in the late afternoon. Police hemmed the demonstrators into a small corner of the square and then fired several jets of water to force them down a side street.
Amateur video posted to Twitter shows an unidentified man waving the rainbow pride flag at a police vehicle as a water cannon is blasted over his head.
For a few moments, the cannon seems targeted at the flag moreso than the man, who continues to stand defiant just feet from the cannon.
The cannon actually succeeds in knocking the flag from the man’s hand, and he starts to back up when suddenly, the cannon shifts downwards – and the man is blown off his feet with incredible force.
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Organizers said in a statement that the local authority prevented the rally from gathering at Taksim, a traditional focal point for protests, because it coincided with the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.
Turkey does not ban homosexuality, although homophobia remains widespread.
The harsh police response drew worldwide condemnation in the hours after the video was posted. Even American pop star Lady Gaga weighed in with her anger at the police response.
“These people do not hurl stones and they never would. They do not throw petrol bombs. They just ask for a legal recognition,” one supporter, who gave his name as Bulent, told Turkish media.
“This summarizes what has been happening in Turkey. Any request for rights is met like this.”
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There is no word on the unidentified man’s condition. Police in plainclothes were reported to have arrested several demonstrators.
Later in the day, the protest reformed with several thousand people several blocks from Taksim Square. According to the Associated Press, the police did not interfere with this second protest.
–With files from the Associated Press
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