Erdem Gunduz, right, stands silently on Taksim Square in Istanbul, Turkey, early Tuesday, June 18, 2013. After weeks of confrontation with police, sometimes violent, Turkish protesters are using a new form of resistance: standing silently. The development started late Monday when a solitary man began standing in passive defiance against Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan's authority at Istanbul's central Taksim Square. The square has been sealed off from mass protests since police cleared it over the weekend. The man has identified himself as Erdem Gunduz, a performance artist. His act has sparked imitation by others in Istanbul and other cities. It has provoked widespread comment on social media. (AP Photo)
June 18, 2013 - 2:59 AM
ISTANBUL - After weeks of sometimes-violent confrontation with police, Turkish protesters have found a new form of resistance: standing still and silent.
The first such protest was carried out late Monday by performance artist Erdem Gunduz, who stood for hours at Istanbul's central Taksim Square, in passive defiance of Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
The square has been sealed off from mass protests since police cleared it over the weekend, but have not sealed the square off from pedestrians.
Others copied him in Istanbul and other cities, and the act provoked widespread comment on social media.
Erdem's vigil was broken up by police early Tuesday after others joined him.
A police crackdown that began May 31 against environmentalists and other activists in Taksim Square set off protests nationwide
News from © The Associated Press, 2013