Kuğula Park, Ankara

Pictures from the happenings at Kuğula Park (Swan Park) in Ankara last night (June 11).  While not of the magnitude of what is happening in Gezi Park in Istanbul, Kuğula Park is an amazing place right now.  The positive energy and joy in collective constructive action towards a repressive government is fully evident.  Despite many reports that this movement is a student-based one, the people at Kuğula Park span all ages and backgrounds.  In fact, most seen last night were of middle age and older.

It was also encouraging to see the liberal use of Turkish flags and images of Atatürk.  Let's hope that these actions result in progress in Turkey being a place where human rights are sacred and diversity of thought and lifestyle is not only tolerated, but welcomed.

Banner and horns were abundant but there was no sign of anger, violence or disrespect.  Needless to say, the police were not near Kuğula Park this evening

Some activists are camping in the park while most are dropping in as their schedules allow

The street intersection by Kuğula Park

A vendor is selling penguin balloons to mock the suppression of the press by the government (a leading Turkish TV network showing a penguin documentary during the height of the police brutality in Gezi Park)

Berna Dengiz, Christina Hamer and Alice were pleased to see democracy and free thinking in action

Spontaneous dancing broke out among the participants

The only music was a drum but it was enough

Yes, this is mostly a blur - but sometimes happenings in the world move in fast and unexpected ways - congratulations to all those in Turkey who have spoken over the past several weeks in a way much more effective than political rhetoric