Thousands block highway in Tel Aviv at anti-racism protest
Demonstration follows violent clashes in Jerusalem; sparked by footage of police beating an Ethiopian soldier.
Ehiopian-Israelis and their supporters staged a large rally in Tel Aviv Sunday afternoon, protesting alleged institutional racism and racist police brutality and blocking a major highway in the center of the city.
The demonstration came days after a large rally in Jerusalem Thursday night turned violent, as hundreds demonstrated against racism following the police beating of an Israeli soldier from the Ethiopian community.
Sunday’s rally commenced at the city’s iconic Azrieli Center at 3 p.m. and was followed by a march toward the bustling Ayalon highway, where protesters blocked the city’s major north-south artery.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said Sunday’s protest was mostly peaceful, though several arrests were made, according to media reports. Protesters chanted “Violent police officers belong in jail.”
Media reports put the number of protesters at several thousand strong.
The protesters were expected to make their way to the central Rabin Square.
Read more at: Times of Israel
