A public space: Taksim Square

Taksim Square was planned as a projection of the Republic's goal of modernization and reaching the level of contemporary civilizations, with the symbolic values it represents. So much so that for this planning, which encompassed all of Istanbul, the French architect and urban planner Henri Prost was invited to Turkey and worked for many years together with the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. The changes and transformations the square has experienced over the years have almost been a reflection of the ideological change and transformation that Turkey has undergone in the city... With every change, its guests, users, and personality have also been affected. Serving as the scene for the magnificent May 1st gathering in 1976, followed by the bloody May 1st, 1977, and its subsequent banning after the September 12 coup... The AK Party era, opening it to public gatherings in 2010, and closing it again in 2013... Then becoming the center of the Gezi Resistance... The years when the fire of freedom burned and faded can very easily be read through Taksim Square. At the same time, the reflection of periods when governments became authoritarian and closed to social opposition and activism is also visible from Taksim. In this context, Taksim Square is an important public space. The center of the debate revolving around it is also related to its "publicness" not being accepted or being restricted by the government.

THE SPIRIT OF SQUARES...

Major squares around the world are also important public spaces and have been significant indicators of the states' form of government, their libertarian perspective, and the democracy of the country where the square is located. Their common features are not only that they are located in the center of the city, but also that they carry the historical memory of the city. Red Square in Russia, Trafalgar Square in London, Place de la Concorde in Paris... Or the manifestation of Taksim Square, Puerta del Sol in Madrid... This square, which hosts many actions with its name meaning Gate of the Sun, is considered among the best public spaces. The common feature of these squares is that they carry the memory of important social events that have taken place throughout the historical process. At the same time, squares are the free fields of regions where transportation networks are most dense and intersect. You can build new squares, but history and society give them their spirit. Their becoming public is possible through social acceptance and voluntariness.

According to Habermas, the public sphere describes "a space within social life where something like public opinion can be formed, and which is accessible to everyone/all citizens." Public spaces are areas belonging to the public, where democratic participation is ensured, and which are spaces of freedom for political discourse and action. The importance of Taksim Square is that it is the most important symbol of Istanbul and even Turkey, just like Kızılay Square in Ankara or Konak Square in Izmir, which are included in the definition of public space in Turkey. Of course, new gathering areas can be built over time. As in Yenikapı or Maltepe... But the historical memory, city-center relationship, and more importantly, the voluntariness of the public regarding these gathering areas are not comparable to Taksim Square. Simply put, the civil society components that go to Taksim instead of Yenikapı to lay wreaths and hold a moment of silence on October 29 are the architects of this publicization.

HISTORY REPEATS ITSELF...

Speaking of Taksim's historical memory, on June 3, 1977, the year of the bloody May 1st, 3 days before the election, Bülent Ecevit was to hold a rally in Taksim Square as the CHP Chairman. One day before the rally, the Prime Minister of the time, Süleyman Demirel, told Ecevit that they had received an assassination tip and that he should not go to the square. On the evening of June 2, CHP Chairman Bülent Ecevit appeared on television and made the following statement:

"Today, Prime Minister Demirel called me and asked us to cancel our Taksim rally tomorrow. Because he said he learned from the intelligence he received that I would be shot with a long-barreled weapon from the Sheraton Hotel during the rally. Under these conditions, I cannot ask anyone to come to our rally tomorrow. However, my wife and I will be in Taksim Square at the time of the rally."

Despite his call not to come, the support for Ecevit grew like an avalanche. Ali Topuz, who was the Minister of Reconstruction and Resettlement in the 1st Ecevit Government, describes those days as follows: "Taksim Square and Istiklal Street were full... The roads up to Aksaray Square were full... Aksaray Square was full... That road from Dolmabahçe upwards was full. It wasn't a hundred thousand people; five hundred thousand people were on the streets in Istanbul."

Yes, history has taught us that the people who fill the streets also give their spirit to the squares. Cities and squares live with memory. Taksim Square is the memory of the worker and the laborer. On this occasion, I celebrate May 1st Labor and Solidarity Day. Hoping to meet you every week on 12punto.com.tr, where I say "hello" to you on this meaningful day...