Madonna shares video from Istanbul Pride: Why are there so many police?
International pop icon Madonna shared a video from the Istanbul Pride March on June 27 questioning the heavy police presence at the event. Posting a video of German singer Liana Georgi dance-walking in front of a barricade of police shields with the caption "Why are there so many PoPo?"
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Global pop icon Madonna shared a video from the Istanbul Pride March on June 27, inquiring about the heavy police presence at the event.
Posting a video of German singer Liana Georgi dancing while walking in front of a barricade of police with riot gear, Madonna wrote "Why are there so many PoPo?"
Singer and songwriter Georgi had been in town for a concert at the time of the march on June 26, and attended the event, only to leave behind video footage that is representative of the heavy law enforcement presence at the event.
"On June 26th, 2021 members and allies of the #lgbtqi community in Istanbul, Turkey were chased, discriminated, scared and physically attacked by the police," Georgi wrote alongside the video on her Instagram.
Georgi tried to walk slowly to allow the crowds to pass in front of the police barricade, she said, adding that she had heels on that made it difficult for her to march in the heat.
"Unfortunately I also had some wind shield behind me. Wasn’t very pleasant. But what are you gonna do 🏳️🌈💖💪🏿💪🏽," Georgi wrote.
The songwriter also said in Turkish that there was "only love and hope" at the march, adding an apology for her Turkish and saying that LGBT just wants to exist.
"I truly believe in #solidarity and that we have to call out this #policebrutality," Georgi wrote, "We are treated like criminals. Enough."
Dozens of queer activists were detained and brutalized at the Pride march on June 26, unfortunately unsurprising in the homophobic environment that's been fostered by the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP).