Vans, planes spread US awareness of coup bid in Turkey

By Mucahit Oktay

NEW YORK (AA) - Digital LED vans and airplanes with banners are touring the US to give Americans a window into the defeated putsch staged by Fetullah Terrorist Organization (FETO), ahead of the fourth anniversary of the July 15 coup attempt in Turkey.

Several vans with screens displaying "July 15, Victory of Turkish Democracy" and "Victory of Turkish Nation" toured Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens in New York, Washington, DC and also Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania, where FETO leader Fetullah Gulen resides.

Planes flew banners that read "Stop Terrorist FETO" above New York City and New Jersey.

The campaign was organized by the Turkish American National Steering Committee (TASC), whose co-chair, Halil Mutlu, told Anadolu Agency the effort was to inform Americans about the coup attempt.

"We are reflecting resolved stand and determination of Turkish nation against July 15 coup attempt," said Mutlu.

July 15 Democracy and National Unity Day is a public holiday in Turkey, marked with events to commemorate those who lost their lives defeating the deadly attempt.

FETO and its US-based leader Fetullah Gulen is accused of orchestrating the defeated coup, which left 251 people martyred and nearly 2,200 injured.

Turkey also accuses FETO of being behind a long-running campaign to overthrow the state through the infiltration of Turkish institutions, particularly the military, police and judiciary.

*Servet Gunerigok in Washington contributed to the story