A Necessary Statement to the Public
In January, as EMEKÇİ KADINLAR (Working Women, EKA), we said to all political circles, women’s organizations and Taksim Solidarity: “Let us, all women together, proclaim our freedom in Taksim. Women won their freedom at Gezi and will not give it up.” We repeated these calls to everyone again and again. A week later, feminists said, “Friends, we will hold our traditional march.” Three weeks later, the other women’s organizations and political circles said, “We will not be in Taksim; we will hold a rally in Kadıköy.” In the first week of February, as EKA, we began our poster and leaflet work. In January, we announced online that we would be in Taksim this year, as every year.
At 18.55, we assembled in front of Rumeli Han and began marching with songs and slogans. Before we reached the French Consulate, the police erected a barricade. From that moment, as EMEKÇİ KADINLAR (EKA), we began arguing with the police and pushing against the barricade. Under our persistence and reactions, the police had to retreat, and we advanced. At 19.30, KALDIRAÇ began marching and, some time later, stood with us in front of the police barricade. Thus the action became a joint one in front of the barricade.
Meanwhile, we learned that the feminist women had begun marching, although we did not know what they intended to do. Earlier, thinking that a serious confrontation with the police might harm the marches of other women’s organizations there independently of us, we continued our own program in front of the barricade. At around 20.15, IFK (Istanbul Feminist Collective) arrived. Everyone chanted “LONG LIVE WOMEN’S SOLIDARITY” together. Although there was no problem, IFK began insulting and shouting at both our women friends and the male friends who had come in solidarity and were waiting to the side. When they approached us, we went to them and asked what they intended to do. Their response to our representative was reactive and angry: “The group with men at the front must withdraw; we will march to Taksim. You withdraw, and then we will march.” We must ask what IFK’s purpose was in arguing with us instead of pushing against the police. They said, “We want to go to the front.” We said, “Please, go ahead.” They said, “We will push our way into Taksim.” We said, “Please, let us push together.” They said, “This is our action; we march every year.” We said, “We do too.” And they undermined all our efforts to talk.
Was IFK’s real aim Taksim, or did anger at seeing revolutionary women there leave them at a loss about what to do? Where do you find the audacity to come to another women’s organization’s action and say, “Lower your flag”? It is these behaviors that deny others’ existence. Some of the women who came with IFK did not think as they did. They took action with us and stayed there. Because the Gezi uprising is still continuing for women. Emboldened by IFK, the police called to them, “Stay away from the group at the front!” Another police announcement was more telling: “We are not intervening against the ladies; we are intervening against the women at the front.” The police repeatedly shoved with shields, kicked and sprayed gas. Despite this, EKA did not withdraw and pushed against the police. Everyone can see all this in photographs and videos.
As EKA, we were already alone facing the police. How compatible with Women’s Solidarity was IFK’s withdrawal from there (and KALDIRAÇ’s withdrawal immediately after them)? Women’s strong, mass resistance could have opened the way to Taksim. That is why we advocated this from the very beginning and worked for it.
We have always stated everywhere that we have no objection to male friends who defend working women’s freedom. Because the basis of the problem, and what feeds it anew every day, is the system itself. Unless the source is dried up, the path to real progress and freedom will not open. On March 8, EMEKÇİ KADINLAR assumed full responsibility for the action, and male friends acted under their direction. IFK’s uproar is therefore empty, false and meaningless. Once again, everyone can see this in the photographs.
We have never carried out any physical attack on feminists or trans people. Nor has any male friend who came with us and waited to the side had any connection with an incident of physical violence. Are the purple flags of the feminists who tell us “Lower your flags” not also an expression of an ideology?
EMEKÇİ KADINLAR (EKA)
March 9, 2014