Story highlights Gay pride parade has happened in peace for at least 13 years in Istanbul

On Sunday, police fire pepper spray, plastic pellets to stop it, saying it interferes with Ramadan

Istanbul (CNN) Although the gay pride parade has happened in peace for at least 13 years in Istanbul, on Sunday the parade was interrupted by police who fired pepper spray and rubber pellets at thousands when they arrived to march.

Organizers of the march released a statement saying the Istanbul governorship was not allowing the procession, citing the Muslim holy month of Ramadan.

Paradegoers continued to celebrate in the side streets, as riot police chased other attendees from arteries of Istanbul's main commercial district of Taksim.

One video shows a gay pride attendee being swept off his feet with the force of a water cannon.

Activists say they weren't just targeted because of their sexual orientation or fight for equality, but because Turkey's government wants to silence all minorities and anyone officials perceives as a threat to the conservative ruling Justice and Development Party.

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