JINHA

ISTANBUL – Police in Istanbul attacked yesterday's Pride Parade with tear gas, plastic bullets and pressurized water, arresting many.

Sunday afternoon, tens of thousands gathered in the Taksim Square area for Istanbul's 13th annual Pride Parade, the finale of the city's 23rd LGBTI Pride Week. Police attacked celebrants with tear gas, plastic bullets and water cannons.

Officers blockaded all the roads and side streets in the area yesterday afternoon, then launched a fusillade of tear gas and pressurized water. Police were seen arresting marchers for carrying rainbow flags, using hate speech and violently handling marchers.

LGBTI people and allies protested the police attack with chants of "homophobic state, we'll tear it down." Several Parliamentarians from the HDP and CHP objected to the police intervention on a side street off Istiklal Avenue in a heated argument with police who were refusing to let them enter the area.

Police blocked members of the press from filming the events, threatening to arrest those without state-issued press credentials.

(ed/mg/cm)