Why Turkey's Protests Persist
Christian Science Monitor
Posted 2014-03-13 18:53 GMT
Thousands march March 12 for Berkin Elvan, a teenager who died Tuesday after being hit in the head by a tear gas canister fired by police during last summer's protests (AP Photo).
So many recent mass protests -- those in Ukraine, India, Brazil, Tunisia -- have been spontaneous and largely leaderless. Crowds unite around an ideal, say, honest government. They assemble by word of mouth and, increasingly, social media. The protests in Turkey this week, which continue those of last summer in Istanbul's Gezi Park, are no different. No wonder Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdogan wants to ban Facebook and YouTube even as he searches for some leader to attack.
More:Why Turkey's Protests Persist
