User:Galatasaray1717/Gezi Park protests

In a country like Turkey, where people state they occasionally feel divided due to their socio-economic status, race, and religion, the major unifying power has always been sports, more specifically, football. The three most prominent and historic soccer clubs of Turkey are Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe and Beşiktaş. Between these three Istanbul clubs, the rivalry is so fierce that Turkish Armed Forces get involved in securing the fields during derby days. For the most passionate fans, accepting a handshake from the opposing team would seem to be an unthinkable feat. However, this was all set aside during the Gezi Parkı Protests. Many were outraged after the invasion of the park in Taksim Square, so the ultras of Galatasaray, Fenerbahçe, and Beşiktaş came together to protest the incident. The fans held hands and shouted as they would in a stadium with their usual fanatic chants; but, this time against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and the police forces. Millions of Turkish football fans poured the streets of Istanbul and generated a march of unity. The surprising harmony of these fans was so powerful that it contributed majorly for President Erdogan to shift some of his views on the subject matter. It was a testament to both the power of protest and the coming together of people with differing views.