He crossed his arms after he crossed the finish line in a 1500m event at the Paralympics displaying  what has become the protest symbol  of Ethiopia’s major ethnic group, the Oromo.

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Tamiru Demisse, finished second in the T13 race for visually impaired runners at the Rio Paralympics.

He crossed his arms above his head in reference to the political persecution of the Oromo ethnic group by the government back home.

His action echoed a similar gesture made by Feyisa Lilesa at the end of the marathon event in the Olympics.

Demisse repeated the gesture during the ceremony to receive his medal.

Feyisa has sought political asylum in the United States, maintaining he will be killed or imprisoned if he goes home.

The post Ethiopian paralympian continues Oromo protest at Rio appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.

Feyisa Lelisa maintains his life is in danger if he goes home so he’s  seeking asylum in America.

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Feyisa Lelisa has set a pattern for marathon runners protesting for the 35 million Oromo people, who are the largest ethnic group in Ethiopia.

They cross their arms above their heads as they cross the finish line.

This has become the protest sign against the crackdown by Ethiopia authorities who’ve killed more than 400 Oromo  objecting to the loss of their lands.

Addis Ababa authorities insist Lelisa will be treated as a hero rather than a villain in Ethiopia.

His friends have raised $150 000 for him and urged him not to chance it.

The post Ethiopian Olympic protester lands in US appeared first on Jean-Jacques Cornish.