They are water cannoning anything that moves

— Nick Ashdown (@Nick_Ashdown) June 28, 2015

For over a decade, the Pride March in Istanbul has been a centerpiece of Turkey’s active LGBTI community.  For over a decade, it has been staged with surprising freedom from repression.  Even after the Gezi protest, the Pride March went forward without incident.  It is a tradition to be proud of.

Sadly, shockingly, this tradition was broken today with the sudden ban of the march and police mobilized to suppress peaceful demonstrations that have been a cornerstone of Turkish political life since 2003.  Social media is awash with images of water cannons being deployed against peaceful protestors.

We’ll have more as additional information as it becomes available.

Howard Eissenstat
St. Lawrence University