The Socialist Alliance released this statement on June 20.
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The Socialist Alliance in Australia stands in warm solidarity with the Gezi resistance in Istanbul, throughout Turkey and around the world.
We watched in horror as the peaceful occupation of Gezi Park was so savagely attacked by police early this month and in joy as ordinary people of all ages and backgrounds poured onto the streets to defend their precious green space and their democratic rights. We are with you in Gezi.
Neoliberals also take our public spaces for their private enrichment. They also use their police to forcibly remove ordinary people in Australia from places that are rightfully ours.
They take land, and its mineral wealth, from Aboriginal people. They take our public services and privatise them. They cut our forests, dam our rivers and build shopping centres on our parks, too.
They use racism to try to shift the blame. We are with you against the neoliberals, whatever mask they wear.
As socialists, Taksim is also dear to our hearts. We know our Turkish comrades have faced violent repression there many times as they fought for a better, fairer, more humane Turkey. Our comrades have never given this territory and it will never be taken.
We are with you against repression.
In the past couple of weeks your bravery, creativity and especially your humour have deeply inspired us. Despite the tear gas and water cannons, you have expressed, so beautifully and in so many different ways, what we feel — that another world is possible.
We are with you, for that better world.