Mehmet Ayvalıtaş Meydanı

The tram tracks took me to a small square in the Moda neighborhood, where six streets converge at once. Until 2013, this place was named Moda Eski Havuz Meydanı (Old Square with a pool). In the last decade of the 20th century, there really was a pool with a fountain, it was a popular and iconic place - throwing coins into the pool, children made wishes, and lovers and business people arranged "meetings at the fountain." In 1986, the McDonald's fast food chain came to Turkey and one of the restaurants opened on this square. It was at their expense that a public space with lawns and benches was set up. A fountain with the McDonald's logo was built in the center and the square received the first unofficial name McDonald's Havuzu (McDonald's Pool). At the beginning of the new century, the restaurant moved to another location, the logo was removed and the square was called Moda Havuz (Moda pool). The fountain also stopped functioning and its pool gradually turned into a garbage dump. After some time, it was demolished and the square was called Moda Eski Havuz Meydanı. Now, in place of the fountain, you can see a rusty iron structure, this is the sculpture "Red Fish" (Kırmızı Balık Heykeli). The creator of this abstraction is the famous Turkish sculptor, academician and former rector of the University of Fine Arts, Professor Rahmi Aksungur. The current name of the square has the following history: in 2013, the city authorities allowed the construction of a shopping and entertainment center in Taksim Gezi Parkı. The public was outraged by the felling of trees in one of the few green islands of the city, built on the initiative of Kemal Ataturk, deputies of opposition parties and cultural figures also sided with the protesters. On May 28, rallies began throughout the city, at which, in addition to environmental demands, political ones appeared: people expressed disagreement with Erdogan's actions to Islamize society and corruption in the ruling party. On June 1, the first clashes with the police took place and tear gas was used to disperse the demonstrations. On June 2, a taxi drove into a group of protesters on a highway in the Ataxehir region at high speed, killing 20-year-old activist Mehmet Ayvalitash. He was the first official victim of these demonstrations, and although it was just an accident, protesters began building barricades on the streets of Istanbul, demonstrations and barricades also began in the Turkish capital Ankara. Gradually, demonstrations demanding the resignation of the government spread throughout Turkey and continued until January 18, 2014. As a result of the clashes, 4 people were killed and more than 8,000 were injured, but construction could not be stopped. On November 20, 2013, activists staged a march from the Bull statue in Kadikoy to the Eski Havuz Meydanı Square. As a sign of memory and solidarity with the family of the deceased, who also participated in the march, they arbitrarily announced the renaming of the square to Mehmet Ayvalıtaş Meydanı. Moda Ilkokulu Elementary School (Moda Ilkokulu) is located on the square, a historical educational institution, its building is a classic example of Turkish educational architecture.

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