One man's march against racism

Mulet Hararo, member of Ethiopian community launches march on Jerusalem in protest against recent racism in Kiryat Malachi. His hope – to increase awareness of racism, end discrimination

Yoav Malka|Published: 01.16.12 , 13:27

Mulet Hararo, a 28-year-old physical education student from Ashdod launched a one-man protest march on Monday from the Kiryat Malakhi neighborhood where racism towards the Ethiopian community was exposed to Jerusalem.

Hararo, a member of the Ethiopian community, was marching with a shirt that read "Wake up country! Be shaken!" and "Concerned citizen." He is marching with the hopes of causing the nation to wakeup in light of racism towards members of the Ethiopian community.

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When he left for the march he said: "This is about a battle for the life and honor of the members of the community. We are here in Israel, you cannot stigmatize us anymore. I felt a great deal of power after last week's protests, this is a new generation that wants change."

Hararo added: "I am leaving (for my march) from the 'buildings of ignorance' as I call them because this is the site of the height of evil and from here the change begins.”

הררו בקריית מלאכי. "פה היה שיא הרוע" (צילום: יואב מלכה)

Hararo in Kiryat Malachi (Photo: Yoav Malka)

Having made aliyah in 1991, Hararo believes that "my parents' generation has already despaired of changing society's attitudes towards members of the (Ethiopian) community." Yet he has called on all the young members of society from his generation to join the struggle, for only then can they win.

"We must condemn racism. The color of skin disappears eventually but a man's soul doesn't. Man is man is man. There is hidden racism in Israel and it is the most disgusting and the worst."

In the IDF Hararo received equal opportunities and served as a combat fitness officer, "but the post-army reality is very painful. There aren't any equal opportunities like in the military," he noted.

While many in Kiryat Malakhi expressed their support of the march, two men approached Ynet and claimed that the "media coverage of Hararo was racist." Moreover, there were some city residents who were surprised to see Hararo marching down their streets and thought that another protest was set to take place in the city.

Hararo painted his face in black and white "In order to prove that the color of your skin doesn't change the identity or the soul of the person."

He made it clear that "I'm not holding this march for nothing. The biggest changes were made by the little people and my dream is that one day I'll be treated in a certain way because of who I am and not the color of my skin."

Hararo hopes to reach Latrun and from there, to head to Jerusalem and end his march with a major protest which is planned for Wednesday evening outside of the Prime Minister's residence.