TEL AVIV (Sputnik) – Israeli police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld told RIA Novosti on Sunday night that demonstrators in the Rabin Square threw stones at law enforcement officers, who waited about 15-20 minutes before using stun grenades and water cannons to disperse the protesters.
ShockGrenades gas & Selfie. Ethiopian Jews protest at TelAviv against #PoliceBrutality #BlackLivesMatter #Baltimore pic.twitter.com/NZ9rQUwJfR
— Avi Blecherman (@Yomgashum) May 3, 2015
"The situation is under control now," the spokesman said, adding that demonstrators damaged several cars and police had to conduct some arrests, although the exact number of those detained has not been released.
BREAKING: #Ethiopian demonstraters block roads in protest against police brutality and racism #TelAviv http://t.co/Oe0gHbiT8L
— Ruptly Newsroom (@RuptlyNewsroom) May 3, 2015
According to ambulance employees, a total of 41 people were injured in the clashes; the majority of those hurt received only minor wounds. Rosenfeld said the injured include 23 law enforcement members.
Ethiopian-Israelis' protest against police violence is met with police violence http://t.co/sl2yqkOLdF pic.twitter.com/o8PGQAPsv7
— +972 Magazine (@972mag) May 3, 2015
Thousands of people took to the streets of Israel's second most populous city on Sunday to protest alleged police discrimination after a video emerged earlier this week showing policemen beating a soldier of Ethiopian origin.
Thousands of Ethiopian youth are outside the prime minister's home in Jerusalem to protest police violence #RightNow pic.twitter.com/R08hnLYcid
— Keren Simons (@SimonsKeren) April 30, 2015
The Tel Aviv rally was attended mostly by Ethiopian Jews, as well as representatives of other ethnic groups.
'Baltimore Is Here': Ethiopian Israelis protest police brutality in Jerusalem http://t.co/HXewxpNy1I pic.twitter.com/s6jahCxknl
— Mondoweiss (@Mondoweiss) May 1, 2015
On Thursday, another rally against police brutality toward Ethiopians turned violent in Jerusalem.
In pictures: Israeli forces, Ethiopian protesters clash in #TelAviv http://t.co/4IUke8Ywbh pic.twitter.com/zYgVpbnyJz
— Press TV (@PressTV) May 3, 2015
Thousands of Ethiopian Jews relocated to Israel during two waves of immigration in 1984 and 1991, organized by the Israeli government. Currently, over 130,000 people of Ethiopian origin reside in Israel.
Haredi guys stuck in traffic pray Mincha with Ethiopian Israeli protesters on Ayalon freeway #Israel pic.twitter.com/T1Hrt6aPa3
— Ben Hartman (@Benhartman) May 3, 2015
