But it was the animal rights activists who were the loudest. Whistles and bazookas, they marched down Istaklal to Taksim square with one angry message: "5199 No More. " 
The Turkish government is currently considering legislation that would clean the streets of its stray animals in exchange for what they say would be better conditions for the animals by potentially putting them in parks, and it may encourage citizens to adopt strays. But many Turks argue the government is looking to sweep the strays from the street only to leave them to starve in enclosed locations. Seemingly, as a cultural practice many restaurant owners and store vendors often feed cats and dogs in the streets, adopting them in the neighborhood, thought they don't take them home.
A local professor, I met the other night, comes out every evening with mixed food and bowls for local neighborhood kitties. Rumor has it that another woman keeps a separate apartment for the cats she collects and a local tea vendor I watch the other night played peace maker with two stray dogs that wanted to bicker over a bone.
When the protest began a few weeks ago, the government issued a statement stating that the law would provide protection against animal cruelty and it was to ensure the safety and welfare of the animals.But the people's protest continues. They are afraid the government will repeat an incident which occurred in 1910, where officials shipped off dogs to an island, clearing streets in attempts to "modernize" the country - the dogs were ultimately starved to death. And it was said that citizens could hear the dogs howling. Activists are insistant the new legislation violates animal rights and their right to care for them.
Ironically, though, one thing I noticed on Sunday - of each of the protest groups that came through; more people crowded the streets to fight for animal rights than to protest against a war with Syria.
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