Ethiopians protesting President Barack Obama’s upcoming travel to Ethiopia assaulted a journalist from an American radio station.

The demonstration held in Washington DC, on Friday, was organized by anti-regime activists consisting Ethiopians and Ethiopian-Americans.

United States’ President Obama is slated to travel to Addis Ababa, later this month, to meet Ethiopian and African Union officials.

Hundreds of demonstrators who gathered in front of White House, however, believe Obama’s visit is tantamount to approving Ethiopia’s human rights records and the latest elections.

A protester told journalists,in a video comment, that the Ethiopian government is terrorizing Somalia and Sudan.

Nonetheless, the protesters themselves took the liberty to assault a journalist from the Voice of America (VOA) Amharic service.

A video posted on social media shows the protesters chasing and shoving the journalist – chanting “shame on you”, “thief”, and other pejorative words, while others blocked the camera from recording. A Secret Service officer is seen intervening to halt further escalation of the matter.

The assaulted journalist, Heock Sema-egizabher, highlighted the irony of the incident saying that:

“The protesters who marched to the White House to object Obama’s travel to a country which they deem anti-journalist have themselves been harassing and physically assaulting VOA journalist.”

The journalist’s media badge was snatched his badge and stepped on by the protesters.

Washington DC Police and Secret Service officers are looking for the badge, VOA reported.

According to the statement from the White Hose, two weeks ago:

[Obama’s visit to Ethiopia], which will follow the President’s travel to Kenya, will build on the success of the August 2014 U.S.-Africa Leaders Summit by strengthening ties with our African partners and highlighting America’s longstanding commitment to investing in Africa.  This will be the first visit of a sitting U.S. President to Ethiopia and to the African Union headquarters, underscoring our efforts to work with the countries and citizens of sub-Saharan Africa to accelerate economic growth, strengthen democratic institutions, and improve security.

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