Why Ethiopian Jews Are Building a Movement Against Racism in Israel

Solidarity marches for U.S. protesters rippling around the world reached Israel on Tuesday where hundreds of protesters waved “Black Lives Matter” signs and chanted “George Floyd.” They also called out another name: Solomon Teka.

Over the past five years, six young men of Ethiopian descent have been killed by cops, according to the Association for Education and Social Integration of Ethiopian Jews. Police data also shows Ethiopian Israelis are still disproportionately overrepresented in arrests and indictments even though they make up 2 percent of the population.

Young Ethiopian Israelis have led the protest movement against racism and called for systemic reform.

Note: VICE News filmed this report in March 2020, before COVID-19 guidelines were in place.

Follow VICE News here:

[jj-ynft]

How do u beat up one of your own soldiers and not get charged? wtf

[brazxyy]

If they can’t even treat they own people right imagine what they doin to Palestinian people smh 🤦🏾‍♂️

[MrSuperbold]

I am African American and we have faced this all of our lives her in the US. Not all white people are racist. I lived in Israel for about 1 1/2 year. They do treat the Ethiopian different. I felt that they treated me differently because I am American. I think some of the mistreatment has to do with social class. I will always support my African people and I will never supported their favoritism.

[I_am_who_I_am_who_I_am]

I love Ethiopian people in every sense of the word. I've travelled and lived across the world, Ethiopians are probably the best humans among all us humans.

[nialljohn]

Big W for vice reporting on real stories we don’t hear about and should

[natnaeltsigab]

As Ethiopian, it hurts to see my own people suffer this kind of treatment.
"Abused becomes the abuser" -J.cole

[Nolawieneye]

How on earth people who suffered from racism become racist?! What an irony! 😢

[mhr]

And i just wana say, FREE PALESTINE from Apartheid & the most Racist State in the world!!

[unclescizzorz]

From what I’ve heard, the Ethiopian practice of Judaism is the oldest recorded form of Judaism and most likely the closest to how it was practiced in biblical times. Israelis should look to their Ethiopian citizens as a link to their heritage that would otherwise be lost without them.

[adelahmed]

Being a minority appears to be a problem in a lot of countries lately.

[catalinacalvo]

This should trend again. For those who say 'bUt in "IsRAel" thEre iS NO RaCiSM'.

[fpvcjbw]

They treat us like second class citizens sames as the Palestinians.

[asifmehditonoy]

Israel and US police train together. That pretty much explains for a reasonable mind what to expect in tackling racism.

[sb]

True colours of israel are coming out.

[FutureMediaPro]

I wonder how the Ethiopian Jewish ✡️ community feels about what is happening with the treatment of Palestinians?

[mazinal-siyabi]

If Israelis are treated like that, imagine being Palestinian in Israel.

[salmabutt]

This will never be seen or heard on mainstream news

[mihaicraciun]

considering so many white jewish israelis are from the usa it makes sense 😂

[abdulosman]

Love from Canada to My Ethiopian brothers and sisters.

[bFORCe]

Israel: Calling all Jewish people to come occupy Palestinian land.
Also Israel: "No black man, not you"