Gezi protests' victim Berkin Elvan commemorated in police barricade
Berkin Elvan, who died after a nine-month coma he was placed in by a police teargas canister hitting him on the head, was commemorated at the site of his shooting. The shooting site was surrounded by a police barricade, and entrances and exits to the neighborhood were guarded by armored vehicles.
Duvar English
Gezi Park protests victim Berkin Elvan, who died at age 15 from being hit on the head by a police teargas canister that put him in a coma for nine months, was commemorated on his birthday when he would have turned 21.
Elvan was shot on the head with a police teargas canister while he was out to get bread during the protests.
A memorial was organized at the site of his shooting on Sunday, which was surrounded by a police barricade, and the entrance and exits to the neighborhood were guarded by armored police vehicles.
"You should be ashamed of yourselves for doing this, I pity you," said Elvan's mother Gülsüm Elvan.
Elvan's friends from school were also present at the memorial, along with his parents.
Gülsüm Elvan said that she wishes they could have celebrated her son's birthday in a joyful way and added that she feels her son's presence in other children who carry on his memory.
"With this lantern I wish for justice for all kids who were slaughtered as Berkin was, may it be a hope for other children," Elvan said.