Two days after Turkish riot police swept clear Taksim Square of demonstrators against the government of Recep Tayyip Erdoğan (the Gezi Park Protests), a new form of nonviolent resistance arose. At 6pm, performance artist Erdem Gündüz arrived and stood quietly, staring at the Atatürk Cultural Center, from which hung Turkish flags and a large portrait of the country's founder. Hundreds of people joined him until the police forced everyone out; detaining some.

Gündüz'peaceful action, with no banners or signs to explain himself, was immitated in solidarity across Istanbul and other cities in Turkey within hours and continued for days.
It is thought to have ''struck an emotional chord'' in contrast to the recent scenes of violence. Interior Minister Muammer Güler stated that police would not intervene unless the protests disrupted public order.