PRESS COVERAGE: MAY DAY 2009 IN ISTANBUL
Within the light of previous May Day events, 1st of May in Istanbul covered diversely by newspapers. There has been a conflict for years between the ones who want to celebrate May Day in Taksim and the Istanbul governorship who does not allow Taksim celebrations depicting on Taksim is an unsecure place for demonstrations. Conversations between the governorship and labor unions, Turkish government’s declaration to accept May as a holiday and the celebrations after 31 years labeled the news.
Hürriyet, Milliyet and Radikal briefly covered May Day celebrations and depict the conflict between governorship and labor unions. They also focused that labor unions was able to celebrate 1st of May and commemorate 1977 events. 1977’s 1st of May in Taksim was the most violent 1st of May celebration ended with 34 death and 126 injuries and Taksim square hosted exciting celebrations. Hurriyet’s headline was “TAKSIM AFTER 31 YEARS”, Milliyet’s “WORKERS AT TAKSIM AFTER 31 YEARS” and Radikal used photography to represent the May Day using “THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY” in its headline and covered celebrations, demonstration attempts of illegal ideological groups and extra ordinary police force, 25.000 in the front page.
Sabah covered the news using “PEACE AT SQUARE WAR ON STREET” comparing the limited number of labor union members in square celebrating and the other people who police forces acted violently while they were trying to reach square while Cumhuriyet Newspaper focus on the Taksim Square is not a taboo anymore. Taraf described May Day as the “the war day between state of law and police state”. Newspapers known with their religious backgrounds gave little interest on 1 st of May. Vakit and Yeni Şafak nearly did not covered the May Day news and Zaman depicted on only government and governorship related news about 1st May.
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