Özel's shopkeeper visit turns into a rally: CHP Chairman delivers his message through Güner's words

Republican People's Party (CHP) leader Özgür Özel spoke after his shopkeeper visit in Adana by standing on a bench on a boulevard that had turned into a rally area.

Özel stated, "This morning, they attacked our Çankaya Mayor, our youngest, Hüseyin Can. He called me early in the morning to say he would return on the first flight and that he had done nothing to be ashamed of. I told him, 'Just as I rushed to Adana when Zeydan Karalar was taken, I will rush to Ankara.' He said to me, 'You go to Adana; if you walk, they cannot stop us.'"

Highlights from Özgür Özel's speech are as follows:

"On one side are your courts, your judges, and your prosecutors; on the other is the will of Adana. You will never be able to stand before the rushing flood of the people. Today is not a day to turn anger into harsh words, but a day to turn it into energy and a march to power.

They know that they gave us 30 liras for a kilo of cotton that should have been 40 liras. The operations carried out are against the nation's march to power. Let them hear that we will not give up on marching to power. I swear that I will not give up either. I promise you, no matter what they do. They try to scare us by giving dates. We woke up this morning and got the news. They attacked our Çankaya Mayor, our youngest, our Hüseyin Can. At 5:30 in the morning, he said, 'I am returning on the first flight. I did not do anything to make you ashamed.' I told him, 'Hüseyin, just as I rushed to Adana when Zeydan Karalar was taken, I will rush to Ankara,' and he said to me, 'You go to Tekir, to Adana; if you walk, they cannot stop us.'

"HÜSEYİN CAN'S FATHER DIED WHEN HE WAS 1 YEAR OLD"

Hüseyin Can's father died when he was 1 year old. He grew up on his prison guard mother's salary. He entered Ankara Law School with a top-student quota. He worked and strove. He took the Judge and Prosecutor Exam. He was in the top 100 out of 20 thousand people, but was eliminated. He took it again, and they eliminated him in the interview. It was his destiny to become the Mayor of Çankaya.

ÖZGÜR ÖZEL'S MESSAGE: 'NO ONE SHOULD BE AFRAID'

"Young people have called out many times, saying 'Roll up your sleeves.' I told the young people, 'I will not roll up my sleeves. My job is to get those who roll up their sleeves out.' Greetings to Mayor Ekrem. Two sisters fell during the march today, and my shirt got stained while helping them up. They said, 'Roll up your sleeves.' I said, 'If I roll up my sleeves, it will make the news as 'Özgür Özel rolled up his sleeves.' I am saying it here, but with Mayor Ekrem's Presidential Candidacy, along with Mayor Mansur, Mayor Zeydan, and our Mersin Metropolitan Mayor Mayor Vahap, we are determined to roll up our sleeves, wear down the roads, and reach power together, shoulder to shoulder with all of you.

This determination, this belief, is the nightmare of the ruling power. It is also the dream of power for us, for the victims, for the oppressed. Let them continue to be afraid and to attack. We are continuing our struggle, our march, and our march to power. I am calling out from Adana. No one should be afraid, never. We will neither act in haste and make mistakes, nor will we be late and turn hopes into despair. We promise you. Very soon, we will either open a path or find a path. Very soon, we will either find a way to take back our party or, without ever upsetting you, we will open a new path. Are you ready to walk this path with me? Then let's walk, friends."