Thousands of women in Istanbul have gathered for the 16th Feminist Night March despite rain and cold weather. Main slogans resonating on streets were "We will not keep silent, we are not afraid, we will not submit", "Break the hand that beats women" and "Jin Jiyan Azadi". The march has had a festive turn with drummers joining the chants.
Under State of Emergency Rule's heavy security measures with police cordoning the Taksim Square and guarding streets leading to Istanbul's Istiklal Avenue, thousands of women have gathered on a rainy afternoon on March 8, for the Feminist Night March. For 16 years women have been gathering and marching on Istiklal Avenue in a festive spirit, marching for women's rights and protesting against patriarchy, violence against women and gender inequality. dokuz8NEWS correspondents Serpil Ağtoprak, İrem Afşin, Zale Karademir, Soner Karabulut, Arif İyidoğan, Süha Küçük and Gürkan Özturan have followed the march proceeding from its start. Feminist Night March's first steps were on the FerryWomen gathered in front of the French Cultural Centre#8M18 Women sang songs and chanted slogans on their way to Feminist Night March as part of #WomensDay on the ferry from Kadıköy to Karaköy in #Istanbul.#dokuz8/@Obefintlig pic.twitter.com/ScZ0XIUdcw
— dokuz8 NEWS (@dokuz8_EN) 8 March 2018
#8M18 In Istanbul women have gathered in front of the French Cultural Centre prior to the 16th Feminist Night March as part of #WomensDay.#dokuz8/@serpil_agtoprak pic.twitter.com/jUX4oaVQlL
— dokuz8 NEWS (@dokuz8_EN) 8 March 2018
Mothers for Peace also participated the Feminist Night March
Thousands of women have gathered on Istiklal Avenue#8M18 Mothers for Peace also participated the #FeministNightMarch on #Istanbul's Istiklal Avenue.#dokuz8/@Gunes_ablapic.twitter.com/lGmzuoXaPp
— dokuz8 NEWS (@dokuz8_EN) 8 March 2018
Women have filled the Istiklal Avenue#8M18 Thousands of women gathered on #Istanbul's Istiklal Avenue for Feminist Night March. #dokuz8/@Gunes_abla pic.twitter.com/cU3Vvjg087
— dokuz8 NEWS (@dokuz8_EN) 8 March 2018
"We are not afraid, we will not keep silent, we will not submit!"#8M18 Istanbul's Istiklal Avenue was filled with women on the 16th Feminist Night March as part of #WomensDay. #dokuz8/@serpil_agtoprak pic.twitter.com/SHeeQiDgkA
— dokuz8 NEWS (@dokuz8_EN) 8 March 2018
Istiklal Avenue was blocked during the night due to abundant participation to Feminist Night March in Istanbul#8M18 Feminist Night March in #Istanbul continued with slogans "We are not afraid, we will not keep silent, we will not submit!" #dokuz8/@serpil_agtoprak pic.twitter.com/ZGEWqGPqQ2
— dokuz8 NEWS (@dokuz8_EN) 8 March 2018
Thousands of women chanted slogans against gendered-violence and increasing harassment during 16th Feminist Night March.#8M18 Istiklal Avenue was blocked during the night due to abundant participation to Feminist Night March in #Istanbul. #dokuz8/@arifiyidogan pic.twitter.com/9fTjcwtJiy
— dokuz8 NEWS (@dokuz8_EN) 8 March 2018
[caption id="attachment_10914" align="aligncenter" width="682"] Feminist Night March 2018[/caption]#8M18 Thousands of women chanted slogans against gendered-violence and increasing harassment during 16th Feminist Night March. #dokuz8/@sonerkkarabulut pic.twitter.com/WeMPC7WrE5
— dokuz8 NEWS (@dokuz8_EN) 8 March 2018