Melike Aydın 

 

IZMIR - The women who participated in the rally organized by the İzmir Labor and Democracy Forces with the slogan ‘’A breath for democracy’’ stated that they would not wait for the ballot box to send the current government and gave the message: ‘’It is not bearable anymore. We should collaborate to breathe.’’

 

Many non-governmental organizations, political parties and citizens attended the rally organized by İzmir Labor and Democracy Forces on July 8 in Gündoğdu Square with the slogan ‘’A breath for democracy’’. While the participants carried the posters of Deniz Poyraz, who was killed in the attack against the HDP İzmir Provincial organization, they emphasized the struggle together.

The women in the rally area, where we hand the microphone to, said: ‘’Enough is enough,’’ and stated that it is time for a change.

 

‘Something must change’

 

HDP Young Women's Council member Ceren Çepik stated that they came to the area to defend the rights of marginalized peoples and to be the voice of Deniz Poyraz, said: ‘’We came to be a breather due to restrictions and segregations, to defend our rights. We want to say stop this now. We are in constant restraint. Something must change. This is what we came here for. We are not free. We are united for this.’’

 

‘There is a total attack’

 

Feride Konca, the representative of the DISK Union of Municipalities and General Services Workers of Turkey No. 8 and the workplace representative, stated that the Justice and Development Party (AKP) attacked the workers, women, youth, all peoples, and they are aware of the importance of standing against these attacks from Izmir. She continued as: ‘’The Istanbul Convention has been abolished, femicides have increased, child abuse is in question, with Code-29 workers are left face to face with hunger, there are trustees, there is an attack on the party right next to us. Party buildings are being raked, people are being murdered. People are drowning now. Everyone is experiencing this. We are trying to breathe.’’

 

‘Our heads hold high’

 

HDP voter Mevlüde Çelik said that she was in the area to lay claim to their party and said: ‘’Deniz Poyraz was murdered. They took her from us, Deniz's family has their heads held high, and we must hold our heads high too. We do not regret that we fought for our cause. HDP is our soul. We do not turn from our way, our enemy should know this well. It is enough!’’

 

‘We must fight fearlessly’

 

Hacer Yeşilçay from Women are Strong Together said that she came to the rally to not shut her eyes to the massacre committed against Deniz and to say, 'enough is enough'. Noting that the elimination of persecution against women is one of their main agendas, Hacer said: ‘’We must fight fearlessly. The Istanbul Convention has been terminated, but our struggle is just beginning. We will increase this struggle by making our voices heard on the streets and in the fields.’’

 

‘Enough, it is not bearable anymore’

 

İdil Gökben from Izmir Living Areas pointed out that attacks from all areas increased and said: ‘’They are getting more and more brutal. They have an understanding that kills and completely enslaves life, people, women, and nature. We pay the price for the consequences of this situation. As a result of human and nature massacre and femicide, the problems in our lives are increasing day by day. They took our breath away. We cannot breathe anymore. We can even be killed while to go to the party building. It is not bearable anymore. They cannot stop us from making a voice, that is why we are here.’’

 

‘We have to be united to breathe’

 

Yasemin Erden is one of the people who attended the rally from Manisa. Yasemin said: ‘’The murder of comrade Deniz proved that women are under attack.’’ She stated: ‘’This struggle must always be raised. We need to be in collaboration. We have no other choice. We do not have the strength to wait for the ballot box. We must unite as soon as possible for justice, for our labor, for freedom and to be able to breathe.’’