CHP Chairman Özgür Özel sends a message of unity in Saraçhane

Here are the highlights from CHP Chairman Özel's speech:

Addressing Istanbul Governor Davut Gül regarding allegations that tear gas was used on the crowd gathered in the area, Özgür Özel said:

I request the security forces, do not provoke this square. Istanbul Governor Davut Gül, I am calling out to you from here, do not provoke this square! I will not see tear gas there again; if I see tear gas again, the Istanbul Governor is responsible for what happens...

Who are you to fire gas at Turkey's hope? We have now reached him, and the Governor said he had given instructions not to use gas.

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From now on, we are on the streets; we are by your side and among you to seek our rights and make our voices heard.

Resul Emrah Şahan is currently being held in custody on a terrorism charge; the allegation is that by forming a 'City Consensus,' he provided representation for Kurds in the west in these municipalities. Kurds in the west have equal rights, just like the Turks, Alevis, and Sunnis here.

If Resul Emrah Şahan gave them the right to representation, good for him. They say, 'You made a City Consensus, and this is a term used by the DEM Party.'

We came together and won Istanbul. Among us is Zeydan Karalar, the architect of the Adana alliance; the architect of the Bursa alliance and the Mersin alliance is here; our mayor who won Eskişehir with the Eskişehir alliance is here; our 'heeled efes' (a term of endearment for Aydın Mayor Özlem Çerçioğlu) who won Aydın is here.

While we were winning elections in all cities without discriminating against anyone, many names who were previously in other parties were on our lists. Now, let no one try to hold the mayors responsible for those names; I am the owner of the Turkey alliance, if you are going to hold someone accountable, you will hold me accountable!

From here, from Saraçhane, we send our greetings to those watching us in Şişli... Emrah Şahan is not alone! Tomorrow morning at 11:00, we will be at the Beylikdüzü municipality, and Mayor Murat Çalık will greet his fellow travelers; we will shout with them: Murat Çalık is not alone!

Oh Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, you fear the squares the most! Do you see Saraçhane this evening? You fear the streets the most; we are now on the streets, we are in the squares, continue to be afraid! You cannot scare us; you will be the one to be afraid.

I am calling out to all of Turkey from here: the streets are ours, the squares are ours to claim our rights democratically without resorting to violence! From now on, without breaking or smashing, without burning or destroying, but without cowering, the streets are ours, the squares are ours!

They ask, 'Are you calling for the streets?' Yes, yes, yes...

I am calling out from here: we will not sit hungry at home, we will not sit in poverty at home, we will not sit unemployed and insecure at home; while you keep those we elected in detention centers, we will never sit at home!

We are entrusted to one another; I want to thank this square. I said, 'Will you come to show that you are with Mayor Ekrem?' You promised, and you came again.

Tayyip Bey, you ask, 'Are you calling to the streets or the squares?'... I did not fill this square and these streets; you did...

This country is tired of those who look down on it, who give orders and dictate, and who do not make anyone happy except for a certain interest group. This nation wants to see a child of this homeland who will treat them equally as president.

A thousand greetings to our Mayor Ekrem, who will offer this to his people!

While some wait for CHP members to fall out with each other, Mayor Mansur Yavaş, who has won the hearts of the people of Ankara, is also among us; there is no daylight between us, good for him too. We will never separate; we will save Turkey together.

The wall of fear has now been demolished; there are both the elderly and the young here... Good for you, in defiance of those who said you cannot gather here.

Let us make a pact once again: is it a promise that we will not stop the struggle until we get our rights, save Mayor Ekrem, and liberate the mayor of Istanbul?

"YOU WERE NOT AFRAID, BUT YOU CAUSED FEAR"

Are we ready to fill the squares in droves every time we are called from now on? Then it will not be us, but they who will be afraid...

The knees of dictators and single-man rulers tremble in the squares! Today, you were not afraid, but you caused fear...

Mayor Ekrem especially reminds the lawyers who visit him: the most important day for Turkey is this coming Sunday. On Sunday, those who want justice and law will not sit at home. Are we on the streets on Sunday?

Beside our ballot box, there will also be a solidarity box; we will fill that box too with our spouses and friends.

I call everyone to the ballot box; come, vote, and go down in history...

There are reports of interventions against young people at METU (ODTÜ); I am calling out to the Ankara police and governor, and the Minister of Interior from here: these young people do not want war or fighting. This crowd wants peace and equality. Attacking young people and pitting our police against our youth is heartless. You will take your hands off our youth.

"THE NATION IS CALLING FOR YOUR RESIGNATION"

As the CHP, from now on, we will walk wherever the path leads with the youth, the members, and the citizens. We will fill the squares, we will overcome the obstacles to be overcome, and we will recognize no barricades or barriers.

Oh Erdoğan, if you try to take with a trustee the authority you did not receive from the nation, we will not hand over the will of the nation to you. I promise you, together with Mayor Ekrem, we will certainly take Taksim back as well.

You are strong, we are strong, we are those who start by saying 'Do not fear'! We will win! Tayyip Bey, do you see how evil has filled the squares? This crowd wants your resignation.

Just as you disregard the votes the people of Istanbul gave to Mayor Ekrem, the nation disregards you and calls for your resignation.

We are determined to end this oppression and bring justice. We are meeting tomorrow, we are meeting on Sunday, and we are all standing up for Mayor Ekrem together.