WATCH: Istanbul Pride Revelers Attacked By Police With Water Cannons, Tear Gas

Police in the Turkish city turned water cannons at people celebrating Pride, and fired tear gas and rubber bullets at them.

Dawn Ennis

The Advocate's news editor Dawn Ennis successfully transitioned from broadcast journalism to online media following another transition that made headlines; in 2013, she became the first trans staffer in any major TV network newsroom. As the first out transgender editor at The Advocate, the native New Yorker continues her 30-year media career, in which she has earned more than a dozen awards, including two Emmys. With the blessing of her three children, Dawn retains the most important job title she's ever held: Dad.

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Dawn Ennis

June 28 2015 3:20 PM EST

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September 22 2017 12:48 AM EST

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Turkish police violently broke-up a gay pride march, according to reports and as shown in stunning video recorded by witnesses.

In the pictures posted on social media, officers in central Istanbul are seen clearing the streets where the annual gay pride parade traditionally steps off.

In one video, made by Twitter user Funda Eryigit, a lone man holding a rainbow flag is seen standing defiantly in front of police, before he is knocked off his feet by the spray.

\u201c#OnurY\u00fcr\u00fcy\u00fc\u015f\u00fc #LGBT #missokak\u201d
— Funda Eryi\u011fit (@Funda Eryi\u011fit) 1435500823

One witness, Gizem Paksoy, told PinkNews: "I actually have no idea why they started attacking. No warning, nothing.

"They started to use water cannons. People spreaded around and they chased people in the streets."

\u201cMis Sokak'a polis sald\u0131r\u0131s\u0131\u201d
— Funda Eryi\u011fit (@Funda Eryi\u011fit) 1435499454

The Associated Press reported between 100 and 200 protesters were chased away from Taksim Square as they began gathering in the late afternoon.

Police hemmed the demonstrators into a small corner of the square and then fired several jets of water to force them down a side street. Turkey's Dogan News Agency says rubber pellets were also used. An Associated Press reporter at the scene occasionally smelled tear gas, but there didn't appear any further attempt by police to interfere with the protest.

Within minutes, the noisy but otherwise peaceful rally restarted a few blocks away and grew to several thousand people as the day wore on.

Although the Dogan news agency reported that police originally told crowds to disperse and that they were not allowed to march, the Independent reports it's unclear why police stopped them from gathering in Taksim, as the event is well established.

However, this year the parade coincides with the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, which the newspaper notes could be upsetting conservative Muslims.

Turkey is officially not governed by religious authorty under its nearly century-old constitution, but the Islamic ruling AK party is widely perceived as sponsoring the spread of political Islam nationwide.