[ Art In The Midst Of REVOLUTION]

It really amazes me that in the midst of civil unrest and revolution, you can find some of the most inspirational art- art that is so completely thought provoking and enlightening. These images are a window into the minds of the people.  I really feel that this is the spirit of the humanity, the images that they, in the midst of chaos, hurriedly paint, and draw on walls, and streets. The images below are coming out of Turkey.

 

[Turkish Government Giving “final warning” To Protesters]

As clashes between protesters and police continue in Istanbul, the Turkish Prime Minister has issued a “final warning” to protesters in Gezi Park.

"Our patience is at an end. I am making my warning for the last time," said Prime Minister Erdogan the day after he promised to end protests “in 24 hours”.   
  
“We cannot allow troublemakers to hang around freely in this square. We will clean the square,'' he told local party leaders. 

However, the Prime Minister's words served only to aggravate protesters, who were defiant, and met his deadline with extreme resistance. Overnight riots ended up with police firing tear gas and water cannons in an attempt to disperse some 2,500 protesters, as they tried to erect barricades on a road that led to government offices. 

On Thursday morning police arrested 42 people in Istanbul who were peacefully marching around the park. Meanwhile, by the 14th day of bloody protests five people are confirmed dead, and there have been more than 5,000 injured. 

The atmosphere is getting more and more hostile, as protesters express fears that a "witch hunt" will soon be underway.  And with Prime Minister Erdogan not elaborating on the exact meaning of “final warning”, the people of Istanbul are left to wonder what lies in store for them during this time of extreme instability.

The actions taken by police over these last few weeks have led the Interior Ministry to order a probe into what the EU Parliament has called “the disproportionate and excessive use of force” by police. These claims from the EU Parliament seem to be confirmed by the violent images and videos coming out of Istanbul.

"Our inspectors in Istanbul, Ankara, Izmir and other cities have launched an investigation so no one should worry about that," Interior Minister Muammer Guler said Thursday.

One can only hope that a fair and balanced appraisal of the situation will lead to proper action being taken, but with a great gap appearing between the people of Istanbul and their leadership, it seems rather unlikely at the moment.

The members of the European Parliament have expressed their concern over the situation in Turkey. As members of the European Parliament are expected to vote on a resolution setting out their position, Prime Minister Erdogan slammed the EU Parliament, saying he will not “recognize the decision.”

 “I won't recognize the decision that the European Union Parliament is going to take about us ... Who do you think you are by taking such a decision?”

[Protesters And Police Clash In Istanbul, Turkey]

                                     [Protesters in Istanbul, Turkey]
     


What started out as a small, and peaceful sit-in protest against the demolition of the Gezi park in Istanbul has erupted into what some people are calling "anti-Government riots", and an "anarchist movement" in several cities in Turkey. The trouble started when police began using teargas and high pressure water canons to break up protests and disperse protesters. The action taken by police has been considered violent and unnecessary by many people around the world. After use of these weapons against protesters, the situation quickly escalated into an all out riot, and many people began pouring out of buildings and offices to show support to the protesters, and disapproval of the action taken by police.

What had begun as a demonstration by hundreds, became a riot of thousands. The images and videos coming out of Turkey are often disturbing in nature, and show what most in America would call "police brutality". The point of the protest has changed focus, and is no longer about the park, so much as it is about current leadership in Turkey. The protesters are calling for the resignation of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan. While the Prime Minister has admitted that the police made "mistakes" while dealing with the protesters, he has called for an end of the Istanbul protests. He  has also referred to the protesters as "extremists", a term that many believe better suits him and his regime.


Prime Minister Erdogan has stated that the construction plans at the park will continue as planned, despite mass disapproval. This may be more about showing power and authority over his people, than the demolition of the park.

It has been stated by the Interior Ministry that a total of 939 people have been arrested.  There are also reports that state that there have been well over a hundred injuries, and at least a few deaths. Though these numbers are difficult to confirm, due to the fact that the situation is still developing.

In an attempt to reduce tension, police and riot vehicles were withdrawn from Istanbul's Taksim Square, near the Gezi Park on Saturday afternoon, thousands of people packed the square to demonstrate.


Oral Goktas, a protester, told Reuters the protest had become one "against the government, against Erdogan taking decisions like a king".

 Koray Caliskan, also a protester, told the BBC that people felt "victorious".
"This is the first time in Turkey's political history that a million people moved into Taksim Square to claim their public park,".

Despite this small victory, the unrest has not diminished, and reporters have stated that there seems to be a growing agitation amongst the predominantly young protesters, which is elevated substantially as night falls over Istanbul and the rest of Turkey. Violent clashes with police continue.