Thursday, November 21 at 6:00 PM
Hanes Art Auditorium – Room 121
UNC – Chapel Hill
During the month of June every major city in Turkey saw tens of thousands of people converge in the streets in defiance of the government and its autocratic rule. What started at the end of May in Istanbul as a movement against urban development resonated across the country and became an uncontrollable revolt spreading like wildfire. Catching everyone, including its participants, off-guard the uprising captivated the imagination of people in Turkey as well as those following it across the globe. Although it would appear from a distance that the Gezi Spirit has subsided, in reality it has ushered in a new era and form of rebellion in Turkey.
Join us to hear a first-hand report from Istanbul, accompanied by photos and videos, outlining the progression of the uprising, some of its constituents, their strategies, the reconciliation of social divisions, contradictions on the ground and stories from the heady days filled with teargas and barricades. The discussion will include an overview of where the Gezi Resistance finds itself today, months after the first street-level revolts.
Sponsored by the UNControllables
Questions? Contact CarolinaUNControllables@gmail.com
Cosponsored by the Center for Global Initiatives, the Curriculum for Global Studies, the Carolina Center for the Study of the Middle East and Muslim Civilizations, and the Duke-UNC Consortium for Middle East Studies.