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Gay activists show up for pride parade in Turkey after authorities ban rally

Parade broken up with tear gas
Gay activists show up for pride parade in Turkey after authorities ban rally
Posted at 9:53 AM, Jun 26, 2016
and last updated 2016-06-26 12:53:13-04

ISTANBUL (AP) — Police in Istanbul have used tear gas and have detained activists who gathered to mark gay pride week after authorities banned their rally in the city. At least 19 activists have been detained.

Police on Sunday rounded up several activists who assembled on a main pedestrian street to issue a statement in honor of gay rights and to denounce the ban. Police later fired tear gas and rubber pellets to disperse activists gathering in side streets. Two European Parliament legislators were also briefly detained.

Istanbul's governor banned both last week's Trans Pride March and Sunday's broader LGBT pride parade, citing security concerns.

Last week, police also used tear gas and rubber bullets to break up demonstrators who gathered for the transgender parade in defiance of the ban.