Police in İstanbul dispersed a small group of demonstrators who gathered on Tuesday to denounce police violence and to stand in solidarity with protesters in the United States, The Associated Press reported, citing local media.
At least 29 demonstrators were detained, Turkey’s state-run Anadolu news agency reported.
The report said riot police broke up the demonstration in İstanbul’s Kadıköy district late Tuesday after the group of about 50 activists ignored calls to disperse.
Some of the anti-police violence activists were seen carrying a poster of George Floyd, who died after a white Minneapolis police officer pressed his knee against Floyd’s neck while the handcuffed black man called out that he couldn’t breathe.
Floyd’s death on May 25 sparked protests that have spread across the US and beyond. Turkish authorities frequently impose bans on public demonstrations or gatherings on security grounds.
Human rights groups often accuse police of using disproportionate force to break up demonstrations.
Turkish officials, including President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, have condemned police violence targeting black Americans following Floyd’s death.