Ethiopian Israelis protest in Tel Aviv against racism, police brutality

Ethiopian Israelis plan to hold a protest march in Tel Aviv against racism and police brutality Sunday afternoon, three days after more than a thousand protesters rallied in Jerusalem Thursday night, blocking traffic and clashing with police.

The march is planned for 3 p.m. outside the Azrieli towers in central Tel Aviv, located at one of the main traffic intersections in the city. As before Thursday’s rally, Israelis spread word of the protest via social media, The Jerusalem Post reported.

Thursday night’s rally in Jerusalem was triggered by a video released earlier in the week of an Ethiopian Israeli soldier in uniform being beaten by an Israel Police officer and police volunteer in Holon.

The community has long complained about unfair treatment and violence by police, and the video received widespread coverage in the Israeli media.

On Thursday night, around 1,000 Ethiopian Israelis began rallying outside Israel Police headquarters in the capital, eventually blocking traffic at a number of intersections in the city. Police used tear gas to clear the crowd, and in the ensuing fracas, three policemen and more than 10 protesters were hurt and received medical treatment.