Digital Activism and Social Movements: How the World Perceives the Gezi Movement Dr

Digital Activism and Social Movements: How the World perceives the Gezi Movement Dr. Ece Baban

Assistant Professor Okan University Email ID: [email protected]

Dr. Ebru Güzel

Assistant Professor Okan University Email ID: [email protected]

Internet activism (also known as online activism, digital campaigning, digital activism, online organizing, electronic advocacy, cyberactivism, e-campaigning, and e-activism) is the use of electronic communication technologies such as social media, especially Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, e-mail, and podcasts for various forms of activism to enable faster communication by citizen movements and the delivery of local information to a large audience. From Occupy to Uncut, from the Arab Spring to the Slutwalk movement, few questions about recent activism raise as much controversy as the role of the internet. This study covers two main issues; one of them is the way activists use the new media and the second is how the new media affects the globalization of social activities. The study investigated the Arab Spring, the Occupy Wall Street and the London Revolt as examples of digital activism in the world. The study also offers the Gezi Parkı events as an example from Turkey. It mentions some groups such as Occupy Gezi New York Action Group, Occupy Gezi Deutschland, Occupy Gezi Milano that were formed to use the new media to promote digital activities. These groups that are formed on facebook have investigated the use of the new media according to Morozov's new media strategies.

Keywords: Digital Activism, Social Media, Social Movements, Occupy Gezi

“To radically shift regime behavior we must think clearly the internet. The influence area of digital activism and boldly for if we have learned anything, it is that has increased due to the globalization and the regimes do not want to be changed. Every time we internet. witness an act that we feel to be unjust and do not act, we The fact that the digital activism became a part of become a party to injustice.“ (Julian Assange, our daily lives began with the emergence of Conspiracy as Governance, December 2, 2006). Wikileaks by the late 2010. The fact that especially activists who were be in search of democracy used DIGITAL ACTIVISM HISTORY social media platforms together with Arab Spring Digital activism history is concurrent with internet process to make their voices heard showed how history. Digital Activism is the fact that individuals, effective was the digital activism experienced at the by benefiting from the rapid propagation present day. After the addition of Occupy Wall characteristics of the network structures and Street! 'actions and London riots, it became possible information technology, intend and execute actions to see occupation movements that become which can grow independently from the center on widespread by globalization on different topics in cases, thoughts or events social and / or political almost every country. issues such as freedom of expression, human rights or the environment that they defend or react, and There are three defining principles of social the main objective of which is to be able to produce movements: The common identity of the movement, high public voice and momentum. Due to the anti-motion and social objective criteria (Castells, growing technological infrastructure along with the Touraine). According to Manuel Castells, these globalization, people have become easier to reach 16

concepts should be understood as follows. Identity media platforms used by people to be organized, corresponds to what the movement is and on behalf was one of the outstanding hashtags (Ntvmsnbc, of whom does it speak; anti corresponds to the main 2011). enemy defined by the movement; social objective People of all age groups participated in the action, corresponds to social order or the form of social and the age group constituting the majority was organization that the collective action of the between 15-35 years. The most important reason that movement wants to ensure in its historical horizon. there were more participants from this age group was the fact that they used the internet more All around the world, riots resulting from different frequently. While those who participated in the social problems of the countries have broken out movement were walking, they also shared the and continue to break out. It is possible to see these movement on social sharing sites by using the riots and various social explosions in Latin America, internet, and they conveyed what they experienced mass demonstrations of European working class, the and felt and the photos they took to the world via youth actions and immigrants' riots, riots of the the internet. The movement of don't touch my Arab peoples, the mass strikes took place in Greece internet gained globosity due to social platforms on and the events took place in England. Riots make the Internet. trouble, wounds, inequality and injustice which are rendered invisible a current issue and lead to public Another movement of don't touch my internet took debate. Examples of digital activism were place on January 18, 2014. On social media organizing on social media platforms and arose on platforms, people were invited to go out on January the streets. Streets are places where the demand for 18 at 18:00 and to be organized in different cities in justice emerges in its purest form. In order to Turkey to say stop internet censorship with the understand the concept of digital activism, Gezi #18Ocak18DeSokaklara hashtag. Aslo, RedHack Park protests seen after the protest of "Don't touch group gave support to the riot via Twitter. my internet" in Turkey with some of the digital activism movements that occurred in the world will The identity of this riot was composed of group of be examined. people of all ages who protested against restrictions and censorship. The movement emerged to protest DIGITAL ACTIVISM AND GEZI MOVEMENT IN TURKEY the prevention of internet users' right to freedom of In Turkey, the most crowded movement among expression and access to information. The social those held by organizing via social sharing networks objective is to ensure that internet usage and open for the first time was the "Do not touch my Internet and unfiltered access are seen as a basic human right movement" which took place in 2011. By the as in international organizations. The movement of decision of BTK (information and communication don't touch my internet is evaluated in the new technologies authority), people who oppose the ban social movements in terms of its aims, values and and censorship on the Internet achieved a wide organization. The movement of don't touch my support and took a joint action on May 15, 2011. internet that we discuss as an example of digital Against the system which would bring a new filter activism in Turkey is involved in type of Internet- to the Internet said to be implemented in August 22, enabled activism from types of digital activism. 2011, hundreds of thousands of Internet users set u p During this movement process, people organized Facebook and Twitter groups, organized on these protests and walkings and held demonstrations. The platforms and protested in the street. Simultaneous people, who used social media platforms in order to demonstrations were held in a total of 28 provinces organize, had the entry into force of the law in Turkey and then in 3 countries (Germany, postponed due to the protests they carried out. In Austria, the Netherlands) with the globalization of brief, the movement of don't touch my internet demonstration abroad. #22agustos, which was used which was initiated for internet censorship as the to draw attention to the filtering that would begin first digital activism movement in Turkey took place on August 22 on Twitter which is one of the social with dozens of participants and was successful. The 17

movement of don't touch my internet is evaluated in event. Social media is a tool which accelerates an the new social movements in terms of its aims, effect very quickly and ensures its concentration and values and organization. Tens of thousands of increase in its power. Also, the fact that the number people organized via internet and performed their of people who use social media in Turkey is great actions on the street. This is also an important leads to great effect. Taksim Gezi Park resistance example of the actual digital activism in Turkey in instantly found its supporters in the virtual world terms of the fact that the online action was dominated by social media platforms. People took to implemented in an offline environment. the streets and formed large masses due to social media. Due to the fact that the mainstream media OCCUPY GEZI did not include this event, activists followed the Gezi Park movement began in Taksim, İstanbul at information flow on computers and even on mobile the end of May in 2013 and then became a global phones, not from the mainstream media such as movement by spreading all around the world. On radio and television. Therefore, mainstream media May 27, 2013, while constructional works were was protested by the activists. In the first phase, performed for the pedestrianization project which images of violence executed by the police to the was approved by Municipal Council on Taksim activists spreaded around the country and world via Square, a portion of Gezi Park's wall was destroyed, Facebook, Twitter and Youtube. When analyzed the and in addition, these trees were removed under the numerical data of Gezi Park resistance via Facebook scope of implementing Taksim pedestrianization and Twitter in general, 7,920,511 messages were project. Because of this reason, Taksim solidarity shared via Twitter with #direngeziparkı hashtag group began action. Waiting to prevent the removal during Gezi Park process. Outside of of trees in Gezi Park, the group set up tents. The #direngeziparkı hashtag, hashtags that carried the demolition works were stopped on May 28, 2013 name of the city in cities out of İstanbul in Turkey. over against this action, however, intervention of the (#direnankara, #direnantakya, #direnadana, police against activists was very harsh in the #direnekişehir etc.) The number of messages used upcoming days. As a result of the harsh intervention during Gezi Park events that these hashtags reached to the activists, the people who protested against was 23.9 million (İnsanhaber, 2013). police violence further organized and became a large crowd of people. Although Istanbul 6th According to the research carried out by New York Administrative Court announced that they granted a University Laboratory of Social Media and Political motion for stay of execution about Topçu Military Participation, 2 million messages were tweeted on Barracks project on May 31, 2013, actions Twitter related to Gezi Park on May 31 Friday throughout the country continued increasingly. Due between the hours 16:00 and 00:00. While 90% of to the fact that the intervention of the police to the these tweets were from Turkey and 50% of them activists on May 31 on which the events gained were from İstanbul, 68% of them were written in speed created reactions on social media platforms, Turkish (Hürriyet,2013). Gezi Park action which began as an environmental movement did not remain limited in just Taksim When analyzed some of the groups formed on Square, it spreaded into different provinces in Facebook about Gezi Park in Turkey, the group Turkey and then all around the world from Taksim, formed under the name of “Diren Gezi Parkı” İstanbul (İnsanhaber, 2013). (https://www.facebook.com/geziparkidirenisi) It is possible call Gezi Park process as a centerless received 645,878 likes. movement in which there was a substantial Another example is that the group formed under the participation in Turkey for the first time according name of “Taksim Gezi Parkı Derneği” to new social movement theory. It is an undeniable (www.facebook.com/taksimgeziparkidernegi ) was fact the spread of the Internet and information involved among the groups most followed during technologies had effect in the occurrence of this Gezi Park process with 94,188 likes. 18

When we look at the hashtags shared on Twitter #cnnmoveyourdirtyhandsfromturkey, between the dates May 31 to June 29, 2013; #bumilletsiziaffetmez, #cevapver #askerkışlanadön,#başbakankiminlegörüşsün,#refer #direngeziparkı, #occupygezi, #geziparkı, andumahayır,#türkiyesokakta #direngezi, #geziparkiicintaksime, #direngeziparki, #kabataşeşkiyalarıbulunsun,#yalancıprovokatörler, #geziparkıcanlabaşla, #türkiyemdireniyor, #parklarbizimdir,#evinedön,#polisevinedön, #direngazi #sesvertürkiyebuülkesahipsizdeğil, #budahabaşlangıçmücadeleyedevam,#doktorumad #bubirsivildirenis, #oyunagelmetürkiyem, okunma, #worldmediagotoankara, #provokasyonagelmiyoruz, #tayyipistifa, #bugüngünlerdenankara, #1milyonyarintaksime, #direnankara, #sesverturkiye, #tayipistifa, #duranadam, #direnduranadam, #standingman, , #direnbeşiktaş, #şiddetidurdurun, #hükümetenot, #hepimizçarşıyız, #1milyonyarınkazlıçeşmeye, #izmitdireniyor, #direnizmir, #çözümolur, #1milyonbugüntaksime, #medyagreve, #cnnntvhabertürküboykotediyoruz, #bugünmilyonlarkazlıçeşmede, #direndersim, #ihsaneliaçıkadestekoluyoruz, #ülkesinisevenadam, #tayyipsanagülegüle, #atatürkiyikivarsın, #hiçzamanıdeğil #1milletuyanıyor, #eylemvakti #abdullahgülgöreve, #opturkey, #büyüktürkiyeiçinvarız, #tayyipiyikivarsın, #genelgrev, #genelgrevedavet, When considered the progress of the process on #delilimvar, #ülkeniçinsağduyuluol, #sonarzum, Twitter; it is seen that messages which spreaded just #24saatiçindeistifaet, #kavgayakargaşayahayır, through hashtags at the beginning continued #garantidenparanicek, #polisevedönsün, without any title in the later stages of the process #mehmetayvalıtaşölümsüzdür, due to the fact that everyone was aware of the issue. #bizdeğilpolisevedönsün, #bubirdostlukçağrısıdır, , #bumilletbuoyunagelmez, When analyzed the data obtained from #kaybedenülkemizolur, #direngeziparkı survey carried out by Istanbul Bilgi #tabiatkanunutasarısınahayır, University, it was observed that 39.6% of those who #artıktürkiyemsakinleşsin, #evrenselbarışadoğru, supported protest during Gezi Park process were #provekeyegelmetürkiyem, #kesinliklebugün, between 19-25 years old, and 24% of them were #olimpiyatstadındaomuzomuza, between 26-30 years old. 75.8% of people #imamhatiplioyunagelmiyor, participated in the action through going out to #türkiyeiçinkardeşlikvakti, #70milyonduadayız, streets. This data reveals the importance of social #miraçkandilimizmübarekolsun, #eyvallahgezim, media platforms for digital activism once again. #direnrize, #direntürkiye, #türkiyedenözürdileyin, Both the demographic characteristics of those who #dahagüzelsintürkiye, #çapulculartakipleşirse, participated in Gezi Park movement and the #direnhayattv, #trtözürdileyecek, #wearegezi, ideological of environmentalism effective in joining #akgönüllülertakipte, #sehitkomisermustafasari, movement are in accordance with the ideology of #zamankardeşlikzamanıtürkiyem, #weareerdoğan, the new social movement. #direnturkiyetayyipgeliyor, While telling old and new social movements, we #provokatörbaşbakanistemiyoruz, #direntürkçe, emphasized that new social movements separated #türkiyeseninledikdureğilme, #flamasızgezi, from the old social movements at 3 points by #ankarabaşbakanınıkarşılıyor, Pakulski (Coşkun, 2006, s.137). One of these was the #türkiyebaşbakanınınyanında, #provokatörtayyip, concept of generation. It was emphasized that the #mehmetalialaborayanındayız, generation that performed old social movements #provokatörünlüleriboykotediyoruz, was X generation (those born between 1960-1980) #boykotbaşlıyor, #direngeziseninleyiz, and the generation that performed new social #provokatörlereuyma, #tayyipyalanları, movements was Y generation (those born between #tayyibiyedirmeyiz, #direneskisehir, 1980-2000). As a result of the survey carried out by 19

Bilgi University, it was revealed that activists the massive formation of these events. It developed supporting the action were in Y generation, and this out of demands such as freedom, democracy and result confirmed Pakulski's approach. human rights.

"New social movements are considered a movement Social objective, while environmental volunteers and that includes members of the middle class who activists, who did not want the Topçu Military support a leaderless democratic forms of Barrack planned to be built in the place of Gezi Park participation in terms of its 'structure' emphasizing and the cutting of the trees, who wanted that Gezi on quality of life and lifestyles rather than focusing Park should be located in its place and who rejected on the issue of economic redistribution in terms of the destruction of green areas for the sake of new 'ideology and objectives'" (Coşkun, 2006, s.11). places, on the other hand the majority participated in protests wanted to express their demands and According to Larana, new social movements show dissatisfactions against oppressive and authoritarian the emergence of new and previously insignificant governments in Turkey. dimensions (Coşkun,2006, s.22). Occupy Gezi movement presented images The problems related to identity more associated conforming to the description of a new social action with the cultural issues. These problems are often movement. Gezi Park actions did not take place just problems related to quality of life. When analyzed on squares. General organizational forms of new the new social movements, more cultural problems social movements follow a form of organization are encountered as in the example of Gezi Park. Gezi trying to provide public and media support in line Park is considered within the context of break theory with the objectives of the movement rather than as it carries decentralized and non-hierarchical political parties. Gezi Park resistance did not have a forms of organization and identity orientation leader. There was no political party behind the demands which are one of the features of the new events. The people organized via social media social movements. In this regard, the ideas of platforms rebelled against the government's attitude thinkers such as Habermas, Touraine, Melucci and and the police's violence. Events reached a new Castells gain importance. The identity of the groups dimension starting from the environmental particapated in Gezi Park resistance, when we movement. Therefore, Gezi Park movement should evaluate the Gezi Park movement according to three be evaluated within the new social movements. defining principles of social movements which was adopted by Manuel Castells from Alain Touraine in As an example that we can evaluate as a new social order to better understand or make sense about the movement in Occupy Gezi movement, we can event. The identity of the movement was composed discuss the open-air library built by the insurgents of people from all ideologies, identities and age with their hands. The library was formed after Yitik groups. According to Ayata (Aktaran Kongar, Ülke Yayınları started a campaign on Twitter. As a Küçükkaya, 2013), those people who participated in result of the campaign which spreaded through the the action did not have sharp ideological opinions message of "Gezi Park should remain as a park, a but they had political views. People who beautiful library should be opened. We can give participated in Gezi Park actions were there to support by giving books, brotherhood should win. protest against authoritarian management. Is it difficult? Here is the Free Library that we want Therefore, Ayata describes the Gezi Park movement it to be built in Gezi Park." on Twitter, a library was as "new middle class" democracy movement. created with bricks and the books of every kind and opinion began to be offered as free whoever want Anti-movement began against the violence applied (Yolcu, 2013). by police to the young people with green environmental awareness. However, the social Gezi Park movement is a global movement, and was problems experienced today in Turkey had role in born as anti-globalization as some movements we

discussed above. It arose as a environmental us in moving our country to true democracy. movement, and then, the severe intervention and "(Cumhuriyet, 2013). cruelty showed by the police to environmentalists people stirred up the public opinion and led to the When we look at the results of the campaign, it was change of the movement's nature. aimed to raise 53 thousand 800 dollar donation. However, more than the expected donation was Gezi Park actions are good example in terms of raised and it reached 108,371 dollars. It is globalization of digital activism in Turkey. It is also understood from this campaign that people can possible to see the two types of activism of digital support actions due to the different types of activism activism in Gezi Park as internet-enabled and without going out to streets. internet-based. As an example for online application type located in the high level of internet-based People now make their voices heard to the whole activism , we can show international signature world due to the new communication technologies. campaign organized on website change.org In order to understand the national and (https://www.change.org/tr/kampanyalar/monok international dimensions of Gezi Park actions, how l-polis-%C5%9Fiddetine-son-verilsin-contre-la- the action become globalized will be described violence-policiere-a-i s t a n bu l ) . through examples discussed on Facebook which is one of the social media platforms. Facebook was This campaign is an example of Internet-based very effective in terms of organization in countries activism to say stop to the violence of the police in seeking for democracy and in different social events. Gezi Park resistance in Taksim. Users on Facebook, thanks to the groups they open Another example; Prime Minister said in the or join, clearly put forward their political views and program he participated on Haberturk television create some kind of organization by reaching out to that "There is a trouble called Twitter. Here we see people in their thoughts or becoming popular and the exaggeration and full of lie. I think the thing gaining supporters. Many protests take place called social media is the very devil of the through these groups on Facebook. In this regard, community and society at the moment." Facebook became a kind of "virtual" democracy platform (Aktaran Cumhuriyet, 2008). For these Soon after this speech, Anonymous hacked the web reasons, Facebook, which has the effect of stirring site of the prime minister's office to protest the up crowd of people and on which the testimony of brutality of the police in actions in Turkey in general the people in the event are reflected, was selected as (BİA News Desk,2013). This example is an example the sample area. of Hacktivizm type which is in low level of internet- based activism of digital activism. We can give the OCCUPY GEZI NEW YORK fundraising campaign which was initiated by Murat Occupy Gezi New York Action Group Aktihanoğlu, Oltaç Ünsal and Duygu Atacan at (https://www.facebook.com/OccupyGeziParkiNY indiegogo.com donation site with the slogan of “Full C ) Facebook page was created on May 31, 2013 Page Ad for Turkish Democracy in Action: when the events began in Taksim Gezi Park. 4.356 OccupyGezi for the World” that Gezi Park activists people liked the group page. The group determined wanted to announce their objective to the world its aim as the support for democracy, the right to through publishing as a full-page ad in New York have peaceful meeting, freedom of expression, Times or the Washington Post newspapers as an protection of human rights and civil freedom in example to the type of Internet-based activism. The Turkey and drawing the attention of public opinion aim of the campaign was described as follows: "We and the media against the disproportionate use of want the world learn that is happening in Turkey force by the police in Turkey. Occupy Gezi New from Turks in person. We want the world support York Action Group reported that they were in compliance with Taksim solidarity platform.

The aim of the group stating that they wanted to describing the situation in Turkey" draw the attention of public opinion and media to (https://www.facebook.com/OccupyGeziParkiNY human rights in Turkey, the protection of civil C ). freedom and the disproportionate use of force should be evaluated within the strategy of 'to attract When looking at the news in Sözcü newspaper public's attention to a certain problem' which is one (2013), we see the news; "The call was made to wear of benefiting from the new media strategies of black clothes while going to work and schools in Morozov. The group set out its basic principles as order for the people to support the resistance criticizing the Government of Turkey's attitude through the Facebook event called Black Monday". towards civil rights by supporting the protection of When we look at the report within the group we democracy, freedom of expression, human rights dealt with in New York, it is possible to see that a and civil freedom in Turkey and acting in solidarity movement in Turkey became globalized and took with people in the process of Gezi Park in Turkey. place in World. Another sharing of status was made on June 7, 2013. In the notification, people who It exemplifies to new social movements within the would participate in the action in Zuccotti Park on scope of aim and basic principles of the group. New June 8, 2013 were asked to come there by wearing social movements give particular importance to the uniforms of football teams in Turkey and to personal identity and autonomy against central bring pots and pans to make noise. control in terms of their objectives and values. According to news in Milliyet newspaper (2013), In the timeline of the group, 66 photos related to sports fans of 4 big teams also supported the Gezi Gezi Park were shared between the dates May 31 Park movements that took place in İstanbul on June and June 29. 48.48% of these photos are related to 8, 2013. The sports fans of Beşiktaş, Galatasaray, actions took place for in Gezi Park New York Fenerbahçe and Trabzonspor walked together to the Zuccotti Park and Union Square. 21.12% of them Taksim Square to support the action in Gezi Park. were composed of caricatures related to Reccep As is seen, the same actions that took place in Tayyip Erdoğan and Gezi Park process. 10.6% of Turkey were used also in Gezi Park actions in New them were the photos for the announcement of York within the same time period. gathering in Zuccoti Park or Union Square. 19.70% of them were the photos reflected from the action in Events were held at different times through Occupy Taksim Gezi Park. Gezi New York Action Group. An event29 was initiated with the title of #ResistIstanbulAthensNYC There were 14 shares of state in the group. Shares of #ResistEverywhere Saturday 12PM on May 31, 2013, state were composed of press release, calling for Taksim Gezi Park events began in İstanbul. The call people to take photos and videos in actions they was made to announce the date of the event as June participate, reminding the time and days of the 8, 2013 and the place of the event as New York actions to Facebook users before actions, supporting Zuccotti Park at 12:00 p.m. The following sentence people in Turkey, the rules that protestors would summarizes the aim of this call. obey with the call for participate in actions. "In Gezi Park, for the immediate end of the police To give examples from the shared status violence, for our freedom of thought and expression, notifications; In the notification shared in Occupy for freedom of demonstration and meeting, for our Gezi New York Action Group on June 3; press freedom, for our belief in freedom, for an impartial judiciary, for the protection of our unique It was said that "Attention of the Turkish activists in natural beauties, for solidarity and unity without New York !!! If you have opportunity to wear in regarding race, religion, language, gender, origin, black, then wear black clothes, because the people in nationality discrimination, for a modern and fully Turkey will wear black clothes in the action, don't independent Turkey, for our Turkey! Please join us, write scornful things on posters and carry pictures 22

hear our voice, and share your concerns and our build a shopping center faced with the violence of concerns! #occupyGeziNYC #OWS 30” ". Turkish police after a while. The teargas and pressurized water that the police used and the use of When we look at another example, an event titled excessive force on demonstrators led dozens of “Protest In Solidarity with the Turkish Resistance on protesters being hospitalized without any legal SUNDAY 12:00” was created within the group on basis. The media which was directly controlled by June 2, 2013. The action took place in front of the the Turkish government ignored the events in Gezi Turkish consulate in New York with the Park and even the flow of information was participation of 514 people. prevented. Please share this message in order for the world to become aware of the police state created by When we look at another example, an event titled Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and AKP government. The “Protest In Solidarity with the Turkish Resistance on Turkish democracy needs your help. Thank you!" SUNDAY 12:00” was created within the group on (https://www.facebook.com/OccupyGeziDeutschla June 2, 2013. The action took place in front of the nd/timeline ). Turkish consulate in New York with the participation of 514 people. 903 people reported that According to data on the group which was opened they would participate to the event on Facebook with the name of Occupy Gezi – (https://www.facebook.com/events/203630689790 Deutschland, group members and Facebook users 372/?ref=23 ) titled “Solidarity Event with the had the opportunity to reach at the aims of the people of Turkey” on June 22, 2013. For the event, group, notification in the group and activities the following notifications were published and created. The notification published on the group's Facebook users spreaded them. Notifications on page was on Facebook page in 8 different languages. Facebook were written in different languages. We will see in further examples that this notification was determined as the common goal of all actions Facebook group which was opened with the name performed on Gezi Park in abroad. of Occupy Gezi New York Action Group transferred the Gezi Park actions took place in Turkey to New 72 photos were shared when we look at the timeline York, America, and by means of this group, people of the group page between the dates May 31 to June living in America communicated with each other 29, 2013. 53% of these photos were the photos of the and organized through this group to hold actions in Gezi Park. 14% of them were the demonstrations. In order to draw attention to Gezi caricatures drawn related to Recep Tayyip Erdoğan Park actions that took place in Turkey, some of the and Gezi Park process. 22% of them were related to actions that took place in the United States in New actions performed for Gezi Park in Germany. 11% of York had the same characteristics with the actions them were photos published for notifications. that took place in Turkey. Therefore, actions that took place in Turkey arose in New York, and the Videos, photos and information shared within the Gezi Park movement is a globalized action within group by Facebook users provided the easy access to this example we discussed. data and being together. 9 shares of status were made in the group. As an example of the shares of OCCUPY GEZI – DEUTSCHLAND these statuses, information about the places, hours Occupy Gezi – Deutschland group and cities of the events to be held in Germany were (https://www.facebook.com/OccupyGeziDeutschla shared by photos. The place and hours of the events nd?fref=ts ) was created on Facebook on June 2, to be held in different cities of Germany on the same 2013, and had 2,623 likes. day were reported to other group members by the Group describes itself as follows: “Caution! Turkish share of status of "Please share a photo of the city on democracy needs you!” your profile" "The peaceful demonstrations that began with the (https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.522 removal of trees in Taksim Gezi Park in order to 23

822314449562.1073741839.507965195935274&type=1 impression both in the world and in social media, ). while people were commenting about the photo as it became the symbol of the resistance on Twitter, Hamburg: 18.00 – Türkische Konsulat, Mainz 14.00 Reuters news agency used that photo as cover photo Uhr - am Höffchen, Köln: 12.00 Uhr – on Facebook50. The photo was liked by 5.775 people Bahnhofvorplatz, Berlin: 15.00 Uhr Kottbusser Tor, and shared by 24.494 people on Facebook. Women München: 12.00-20.00 Uhr – Geschwisterscholl Platz, who affected by this photo showed solidarity in Frankfurt: 14.00 Uhr Myzeil, Nürnberg: 13.00 Uhr – Turkey and abroad wearing red clothes. This Plärrer, Düsseldorf: 13.00 Uhr vor dem türkischen example we discuss became one of the most Konsulat, Essen: 14.00 Uhr – Willy Brand Platz, important indicators of the fact that this movement Mannheim: 15.00 – Am Marktplatz, Dortmund: reached at a global scale. 10.00 Uhr am Bahnhof, Stuttgart: 15.00 – Türkische Konsulat, Bochum: Husemannplatz 18 Uhr, Krefeld: When we look at the actions through the examples 17.00 Uhr vor dem Saturn, Kassel: 15.00 Uhr- Am analyzed on Facebook group which was opened Citypoint, Siegen: 15.00 Uhr- Vor dem Apollotheate with the name of Occupy Gezi – Deutschland group and the individual groups of Facebook users, the Shares of events were made through Occupy Gezi – examples discussed such as the use of red female Deutschland group at different times and on symbol, which was used in Gezi Park actions in different days and places. When we analyze some of Turkey, in actions that took place in Germany, and them, we see that 317 people reported that they the realization of pan -pans action used in protests would participate in the event with the name of during Gezi Park action in Turkey are a sign for the “WUPPERTAL DEMO 03.06.13 18Uhr CITY fact that Gezi Park action became globalized. ARCADEN OCCUPY GEZI” (https://www.facebook.com/events/317653661700 OCCUPY GEZI MILANO 501/?ref=22 ) which was organized to protest in This group joined Facebook on May 31, 2013 with Arkaden at 18,00 in the city of Wuppertal in the name of Occupy Gezi – Milano name Germany by the Facebook user named Güngör (https://www.facebook.com/OccupyGeziMilano?fr Mentese. The video shot by Chris Olsen who was ef=ts ) . 997 people liked this group. When analyzed one of those people supporting Gezi Park in the shares within the group on the basis of the dates Wuppertal was uploaded in this Facebook group, between 31 May-29 June 2013, 10 video sharing, 6 and this revealed that also in Germany Gezi Park activity formations, 7 news sharing, 2 link-sharing to actions were taking place. watch live broadcasts and 4 shares of status are seen 87 photos were shared in the timeline of the group. A sit-in protest took place in Kottbusser Tor Square When we look at these photos; 72% of them were the in the district of Kreuzberg of Berlin on June 6, 2013. photos concerning the protests for Gezi Park in Many people came together in this square to act in Milano. 23% of them were photos reflecting the solidarity with the resistance in Turkey, and to actions in Taksim Gezi Park. 5% were related to the protest the oppressive policies and practices of the notification. AKP government and police violence like in a Events created in this group opened with the name festive. The video of the action is found on sharing of Occupy Gezi – Milano. Group members and site Youtube. Facebook users were provided with the opportunity to reach the all information concerning the actions During Gezi Park actions, symbols of resistance by the shares of news and photos about the events in emerged such as Vendetta Mask of Occupy Wall Turkey. This approach exemplifies the strategy of Street. The "Red Woman" (Red Woman: Ceyda 'accessibility and accurate information' which is one Sungur) photo which was taken between a police of the strategies that activists use and which was and insurgent became one of the symbols of discussed by Morozov in his study called activism resistance (Reuters). Photos created a tremendous and new media. 24

An event was created in the group on June 1, 2013 RESULT with the name of “Occupy Gezi - Parco Sempione, 21st century has gone down in history as a century Milano”(https://www.facebook.com/events/50451 in which societies challenged in economic, political 3039604638/ ). People gathered in Parco Sempione and social events on a global scale. Digital activist at 15.00 p.m. movements, which began Zapatistalar and continued with WikiLeaks events, have become According to news on Bianet (2013), people gathered social actions which threaten the regimes and and walked out in Milano Parco Sempione Park and, dictators and take place all around the world against by notifications they published in Italian, they gave the injustices, along with the Arab Spring. It was information about the events that took place in revealed, once again, the role of social media İstanbul and in different cities, and they made calls platforms in protests that took place during Gezi for international support with the slogan of "Turkish Park actions in Turkey, and the action became democracy needs you". globalized and created reactions in the world through social media tools. On June 2, 2013, an event called “Occupy Gezi – Regarded as an example of digital activism and Parco Sempione, Milano 2. gün” social movements, Gezi Park actions were examined (https://www.facebook.com/events/136392456557 through three different international Facebook 532/?ref=22 ) was created by Seda Sözügeçen. 93 groups, and how the actions become globalized in people reported that they would participate in the the world was tried to be explained event to be held in Parco Sempione Park at 15.00 p.m. When analyzed the starting points of the actions that we call as Occupy Wall Street, London Rebellion, the On June 6, 2013, it was reported that the event called Arab Spring in the world and Don't Touch my “#OccupyGezi Solidarity from Milano 06.06.2013” Internet and Gezi Park movement in Turkey, the (https://www.facebook.com/events/658181567528 common characteristic of the actions that they are in 804/?ref=22 ) , which was created by ‘OccupyGezi search of identity. Milano’ group, would be held in Castello Sforzesco, Milano at 19.00 p.m, and 1,816 people stated that Digital movements should take place in the streets they would participate. and squares to be implemented. Digital activist actions such as Occupy Wall Street, London 16 people reported that they would participate in Rebellion, the Arab Spring and Gezi Park were the event called “#OccupyGezi Solidarity PICNIC organized through digital communications and MUSICALE” which was held by Occupy Gezi- spreaded throughout the world. These actions were Milano group in Giardini in Transito between the not only the organized via digital communication, hours 13,00- 20,00 on June 9,2013. they gained significance as actions in the street. On June 12, 2013, the event group called Social media tools such as Youtube, Twitter and “#OccupyGezi - Milano sbarca in Università! Dalle Facebook which are used to implement digital strade di Istanbul ancora si alza un grido di activism have varied in terms of the form of message rivolta”70 was created by Occupy Gezi- Milano transfer and the target that the message is directed. group. 22 people reported that they would When considering the results of the Gezi Park action participate in the event that would begin in in Turkey; firstly, the government perceived the Università Statale di Milano at 15,00. Gezi Park actions as a protest made against them, On June 21, 2013, an event was created by Occupy put a ban on Twitter, issued an order to police to Gezi- Milano group in order to perform action called shoot in Gezi Park Events, overlooked the fact that “ #duranadam Milano” in front of the T. C. Milano many young people were hit by police and beaten to Consulate at 18,45. 303 people confirmed their death, and tried to put obstacles for those who went participation in the event. out streets with culture of fear and violence and who 25

shared on social media. As Gezi Events were common consciousness or caused a change in the regarded as a threat by the government, it is government's oppressive and autocratic approach. impossible to say that these events has created a real

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Çoban, B. (2009). Küreselleşme, direniş, ütopya yeni toplumsal hareketler küreselleşme çağında toplumsal