Message from İmamoğlu to youth in Beşiktaş: 'We will do what they fear most'; youth chant slogans for freedom

As part of the 106th-anniversary celebrations of the May 19 Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day, the İBB organized a "Mustafa Kemal March" with youth from Dolmabahçe Palace to Beşiktaş Square.

Tens of thousands of citizens chanted slogans for freedom for İBB Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is detained in Silivri, as well as Beşiktaş Mayor Rıza Akpolat, Şişli Mayor Resul Emrah Şahan, Esenyurt Mayor Prof. Dr. Ahmet Özer, Beykoz Mayor Alaattin Köseler, and Beylikdüzü Mayor Mehmet Murat Çalık. The İBB City Orchestra and the band Redd also performed a concert. 

İmamoğlu’s message was read by İBB Deputy Mayor Nuri Aslan:

“Mayor Ekrem sends his greetings to you from Silivri. He says: ‘We will reclaim the smiles on the faces of our young women, our sons, and our children. We will do what they fear most; we will become a country without division or separation. We will turn the entire country into a festival. The enthusiasm of the youth will envelop everywhere. We will reclaim our joy and our happiness. With this belief, once again, and with enthusiasm, happy May 19 Commemoration of Atatürk, Youth and Sports Day.’”

Emphasizing that the Republic of Turkey did not reach these days easily, Aslan provided a brief summary of the national struggle led by Mustafa Kemal Atatürk. Stating that “A Republic was born from that march,” Aslan summarized his remarks as follows:

“The bright future of our country, our brilliant youth, were born from that march that began on May 19. Our Eternal Commander-in-Chief entrusted this blessed day to the youth, saying, ‘We founded the Republic, but you are the ones who will elevate and sustain it.’ Today, that youth is before me. I see the sparkle in all of your eyes. I see how you all embrace the Republic. You are all sparks of the Republic, and I see your excitement to turn into flames. I want you to know that Ekrem İmamoğlu, who is currently held captive in the dungeons of Silivri, also sees this excitement. He knows as well as his own name the struggle you are waging for bright days. And he loves you very much. In fact, he is also fighting for you. He is being deprived of his freedom today because he wanted our country and our youth to attain fair, equal, and beautiful days, and because he worked so hard for this.”