Israel's Jewish Ethiopian minority rallies against racism

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AP Jerusalem
Last Updated : May 03 2015 | 11:42 PM IST
Several thousand people, mostly from Israel's Jewish Ethiopian minority, protested in Tel Aviv against racism and police brutality today shutting down a major highway and scuffling with police.
Police spokesman Micky Rosenfeld said about 3,000 people took part in Sunday's protest. He said it was mostly peaceful but there were some minor scuffles with police. Protesters blocked roads in central Tel Aviv as well as a main highway leading to the city.
It was the second such protest in several days and supporters say the demonstrations will continue. The first rally last week in Jerusalem turned violent.
Israel's Ethiopian community was shaken last week when footage emerged of an Ethiopian Israeli in an army uniform being beaten by police.
Protestor's marched in Tel Aviv, with some blowing whistles or chanting "violent police officers belong in jail."
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he will meet Monday with representatives of the community as well as the beaten solider.
Thousands of Ethiopian Jews live in Israel, many of them secretly airlifted into the country in 1984 and 1990, but their absorption into Israeli society has been rocky.

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First Published: May 03 2015 | 11:42 PM IST

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