Taksim Solidarity, also known as Taksim Dayanismasi, is an Istanbul-based civil society coalition formed to defend Taksim Square, Gezi Park and the public's right to participate in decisions shaping the city.
Bringing together professional associations, trade unions, civil society organizations, neighborhood initiatives and advocacy groups, the platform became one of the most visible coordinating voices during the 2013 Gezi Park protests.
Taksim Solidarity emerged in 2012, when a broad coalition of civic organizations came together in response to redevelopment plans affecting Taksim Square and Gezi Park.
What began as an urban and environmental campaign soon became connected to a much wider public debate about democratic participation, freedom of expression, public space and accountable government.
The coalition's purpose was not to act as a traditional political party or centralized movement. Instead, it created a shared platform where independent organizations could coordinate, communicate and defend common civic demands.
The coalition connected the defense of public space with participation, rights, accountability and cooperation across different parts of civil society.
Public parks, squares and shared urban spaces belong to the people who use them. Taksim Solidarity opposed redevelopment projects that threatened Gezi Park and called for transparent, participatory decision-making in the planning of Istanbul's public spaces.
Decisions that transform a city should include the voices of its residents. The platform advocated for meaningful public consultation, freedom of expression and the right of citizens to participate peacefully in civic life.
Taksim Solidarity brought together organizations with different professional, social and political backgrounds around a set of shared concerns. Its coalition model reflected cooperation across diverse communities without a single centralized leadership.
During and after the Gezi protests, the coalition called for investigations into police violence, protection of the right to peaceful assembly and accountability for abuses committed against demonstrators.
In May 2013, activists gathered in Gezi Park to oppose the removal of trees connected to the planned redevelopment of the area.
Police interventions against the initial protest helped transform the dispute into a much larger wave of demonstrations. Within days, protests spread across Istanbul and throughout Turkey.
Taksim Solidarity became an important coordinating and representative platform around Gezi Park, issuing public statements, communicating demands and meeting government representatives.
The wider Gezi movement, however, was much larger than any single organization. It included millions of participants, informal networks, neighborhood groups and independent citizens across the country.
During the Gezi Park protests, Taksim Solidarity publicly articulated a number of demands shared by protesters.
Stop the redevelopment project threatening the park and protect the area as public green space.
Stop the excessive use of force against peaceful demonstrators and investigate those responsible for abuses.
Free people detained for participating in peaceful demonstrations and protect the right to civic participation.
Ensure that public squares and streets remain accessible for peaceful gatherings and democratic expression.
Reject restrictions on citizens, journalists, activists and organizations exercising fundamental democratic rights.
Taksim Solidarity is best understood as an umbrella platform rather than a conventional organization with a single leader or rigid hierarchy.
Its strength came from coordination between independent groups rather than centralized control.
A vertical timeline of the coalition's formation, the events around Gezi Park and the years that followed.
Taksim Solidarity begins organizing around proposed changes to Taksim Square and Gezi Park. Its early work focuses on urban planning, protection of public space and public participation in major development decisions.
Activists gather to prevent the removal of trees from Gezi Park. The protest becomes the starting point for a much larger movement.
Demonstrations spread beyond Taksim and Istanbul to cities across Turkey. Taksim Solidarity emerges as one of the main identifiable platforms communicating the demands of protesters around Gezi Park.
Representatives of Taksim Solidarity meet government officials and formally present the movement's key demands, including the protection of Gezi Park, an end to police violence and stronger safeguards for democratic freedoms.
Members and participants associated with Taksim Solidarity face criminal proceedings related to their involvement in the protests. A group of 26 defendants is ultimately acquitted in 2015.
Taksim Solidarity continues to issue statements, participate in commemorations and defend the legitimacy of peaceful civic action. The coalition remains closely associated with the memory and legacy of the Gezi movement.
One of the most important characteristics of the 2013 protests was the absence of a single organization controlling them.
Taksim Solidarity itself consistently rejected descriptions of Gezi as a movement directed by a central leader, financier or command structure.
Independent groups organized within neighborhoods, parks and cities.
Social media helped information and demonstrations spread rapidly.
Existing associations and professional groups provided expertise, coordination and institutional support.
Large numbers of people joined without belonging to any organization.
The significance of Taksim Solidarity extends beyond the original dispute over Gezi Park. Its history represents a broader discussion about who has the right to shape a city and how diverse communities can organize around shared civic principles.
Gezi demonstrated how decisions about parks, squares and urban development can become questions of democratic participation.
Taksim Solidarity showed how organizations with different identities and priorities can cooperate while remaining independent.
A campaign focused on a single urban development project became connected to nationwide debates about rights, democracy and political accountability.
Years after 2013, Gezi continues to occupy an important place in Turkey's political and social history, while Taksim Solidarity remains one of the civic platforms most closely associated with its legacy.