’Israeli’ Ethiopians Protest against Racism

Local Editor

A demonstration by "Israeli" Ethiopians against Zionist police brutality turned violent on Thursday, with police using water canon to keep angry crowds away from the "Israeli" prime minister's residence.

At least 13 people were injured and two police officers and five protesters were taken to hospital.

Police fired bursts of foul smelling water from a water cannon and used stun grenades to disperse the demonstrators, who threw stones and bottles at scores of police officers on hand.

The demonstration that began as a peaceful march near national police headquarters in East al-Quds, was called after a video clip emerged showing two police officers assaulting an Ethiopian army conscript and arresting him.

Among the protesters' banners was one reading "Enough to police violence" and "Gestapo" with an "Israeli" police emblem next to it. Protesters chanted "the police are a disgrace!"

"We are demonstrating against police brutality, the police are using disproportionate force against "Israeli"-Ethiopian civilians and there are many cases where they have been beaten by the police," protester Avi Tesema said.

Furthermore, al-Quds Mayor Nir Barkat arrived at the scene and spoke to the protesters trying to lower the flames.

"Do you doubt that the prime minister, ministers, and 120 Knesset members want to embrace the Ethiopian community?" Barkat asked a young protester, who responded "I don't want a hug. Look at me as you would look at a white person. I don't need a hugs. That is a patronizing attitude that says that I'm incapable, so let's give him a hug."

Moreover, the demonstrators protested what they labeled racist conduct on the part of police and called for the police officers suspected of violence to be put on trial. Officials at the Justice Ministry's police investigation division said they had opened an investigation into the incident in Holon.

Source: News Agencies, Edited by website team