An Israeli of Ethiopian descent yesterday started a three-day protest march from his home in Kiryat Malakhi to the prime minister’s residence in Jerusalem, where he will join other Ethiopian Israelis for a demonstration against racism Wednesday.
Mulet Hararo, 26, an IDF officer and physical education student, called on Israelis of Ethiopian origin and other supporters to join him on his march, which is intended “to raise awareness for the discrimination and awaken society from its coma.”
“I believe racism can be quashed. We, the new generation, are ready to make great sacrifices. We are fighting for the future generations,” he wrote in his Facebook page on Sunday.
A week ago, hundreds demonstrated in Kiryat Malakhi to protest discrimination in the wake of the reported refusal of housing committees to sell apartments to Israelis of Ethiopian origin.
Molat Araro (C), 26, an Israeli Jew of Ethiopian origin with his face painted black and white, walks with others on a highway in Latrun to Jerusalem as they protest against racism on January 17, 2012. Thousands of Israeli Ethiopian Jews will protest on January 18 against racism in Jerusalem. AFP PHOTO/MENAHEM KAHANA (Photo credit MENAHEM KAHANA/AFP/Getty Images)
Araro embarked on his 63-kilometer trek at 7 A.M. yesterday, passing Beit Shemesh on his way to Latrun, where he stopped for the night. Today he will spend the night in Mevasseret Zion and continue to Jerusalem tomorrow via the Western Wall and the Knesset, where the demonstrators will gather.
Groups of supporters will accompany him at various points along the way.
“I’m determined to make a change and it’s time we did more than just demonstrations,” he told Haaretz yesterday, walking on Route 3 toward Latrun. “The disease of racism in Israeli society must be exposed. As far as I’m concerned all the means are justified except violence. Because racism is violence,” he said.
“I’ve been through the army and learned something. I hope the sane Israeli society will join me and walk with me because this is everyone’s war, not only ours,” he said.
Activists of Ethiopian origin and other volunteers yesterday distributed flyers to passersby outside Tel Aviv’s Azrieli towers, urging them to come to Wednesday’s demonstration against racism and discrimination.
The demonstration is scheduled to start at 3 P.M. in the Knesset plaza. From there protesters will march to the prime minister’s residence and the central stage set up in Zion Square.
Read More on Harretz.com