21/11/2024 | Writer: Kaos GL
On November 20, the Transgender Day of Remembrance, “Rebellion” voices filled the streets in many cities. We compiled what happened throughout the day...
Trans rights defenders took to the streets in many cities across the country on November 20, Transgender Day of Remembrance. Banners were hung, food distribution was prevented, statements were made, and the police prevented the march in Ankara. LGBTI+'s and rights defenders raised the voice of “rebellion” against hate crimes.
We compiled what happened throughout the day for KaosGL.org readers.
Police assault on silent march in Ankara
With the call of Ankara Pride Week Committee, the police attacked those who wanted to hold a silent march to commemorate trans victims of hate crimes. The police did not allow the trans rights defenders who gathered at Kolej metro to march or make a press statement. The police interrupted the press statement and attacked trans activists. 4 people were detained during the police attack. A lawyer was among the detainees.
While the intense violence of the police was reflected on the cameras, the rights defenders chanted slogans “Murdered trans people are our rebellion”.
The detainees were released after their statements and medical examinations at the police station. Trans activists welcomed their detained friends with flags.
Trans activists read the press statement, which the police did not allow to be read, at the Human Rights Association (HRA) Ankara Branch.
Istanbul banned from distributing traditional donuts, banners spread across the city
The Trans Pride Week Committee organized protests at different points of the city throughout the day. The banner reading “Trans people who are killed and driven to suicide are our rebellion” was first hung in Mecidiyeköy. The committee then wanted to distribute traditional donuts, which usually distributed for deceased ones as a custom, for the murdered trans people in Beşiktaş, but the police prevented them.
Istanbul Trans Pride Week hung a banner in Okmeydanı after being prevented from hanging a banner in Mecidiyeköy and distributing donuts in Beşiktaş. Trans Pride Week said, “We did not exist with your hate so that we can end with your transphobic violence! Bê trans jiyan nabe”. (Kurdish slogan means: No life without trans people)
The committee also made flyers in Osmanbey, projected the sentence “Eylül Cansın was here” on the Bosphorus Bridge for Eylül Cansın, who committed suicide in 2015 due to transphobic oppression, and hung a trans flag in Kadıköy Söğütlüçeşme.
Another organization, Demir Leblebi hung a banner in Kadıköy to commemorate trans victims of hate crimes. The banner read “We will destroy your power of hate, we will win our lives. Trans people will live!”
HRA Mersin Branch took to the streets for trans people: Violence and hatred are on the agenda of trans people every day
With the call of HRA, LGBTI+ organizations Muamma and 7 Colors from Mersin participated in the protest at Özgür Çocuk Park with the banner “We are together against hate, human rights for everyone”. Rights defenders made a press statement with trans and LGBTI+ flags.
The statement of HRA headquarters LGBTI+ commissions was also read at the Pride Vigil of HRA Ankara Branch LGBTI+ Commission. The fourth Pride Vigil was held on November 20. In addition to the commission members, representatives of IHD, GALADER, DEM Party and Ankara Pride Week Committee also attended the vigil.
Protest against hate in front of Izmir Bar Association
The address of the Transgender Day of Remembrance protests in Izmir was Izmir Bar Association Free Speech. With the call of the newly founded 20 November Association for Combating Hate Crimes and Izmir Bar Association, rights defenders came together in front of Izmir Bar Association to commemorate transgender victims of hate crimes. Carrying trans flags and banners reading “We will build a colorful life with our anger”, the rights defenders frequently chanted “Trans murders are political”.
A voice rising from the campuses: Murdered trans people are our rebellion
Mimar Sinan Fine Arts University LGBTIQA+ Community Queer Baykuş made a press statement at the Fındıklı campus of the university. Coming together with trans flags and the banner “Murdered trans people are our rebellion”, the students said, “We remind that the state's ongoing murderous and transphobic policies continue in universities, homes and streets; we remind that we live with the fact that trans people are dragged to death and murdered in every corner of this geography. If we trans people are here today, if we are alive, it means that we have carried the rebellion of many of our friends, many trans people who were murdered.”
Student organizations from Yildiz Technical, Aegean, Marmara, Bilkent, Yeditepe and Turkish German Universities also hung trans flags on their campuses.
Tags: human rights, women
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