Are Italians Racists? ---Bananas thrown at Italy's first black minister

[X Factor 1,111]

Are Italians Racists? -- Bananas thrown at Italy's first black minister

ROME - Some of Italy's top politicians on Saturday rallied behind the country's first black minister after a spectator threw bananas at her while she was making a speech.

Integration Minister Cecile Kyenge, who is originally from Democratic Republic of Congo, was appearing at a political rally in Cervia in central Italy on Friday, when someone in the audience threw bananas towards the stage, narrowly missing it.

Kyenge has faced almost daily racial slurs and threats since joining the government. Earlier this month a senator from the anti-immigration Northern League party likened her to an orangutan and only apologized after a storm of criticism.

Last month, a local Northern League councilor said Kyenge should be raped so she understands how victims of crimes committed by immigrants feel. The councilor has received a suspended jail sentence and a temporary ban from public office.

Shortly before Friday's incident, members of the far-right Forza Nuova group left mannequins covered in fake blood near the site of the Democratic Party rally in protest against Kyenge's proposal to make anyone born on Italian soil a citizen.

"Immigration kills," was written on leaflets accompanying the dummies - a slogan Forza Nuova has previously used when referring to murders committed by immigrants in Italy.

However, on Saturday the group denied that one of its members had thrown the bananas. Italian police are trying to identify the culprit.

Kyenge responded to the gesture on Twitter, calling it "sad" and a waste of food.

"The courage and optimism to change things has to come above all from the bottom up to reach the institutions," she added.

Several politicians, including her peers in Prime Minister Enrico Letta's government, responded with messages of support and condemnation on Saturday.

Environment Minister Andrea Orlando said on Twitter he felt "utmost indignation for this lowly act", while Education Minister Maria Chiara Carrozza praised Kyenge for her courage and determination in such a hostile climate.

Veneto region governor Luca Zaia from the Northern League, who is due to participate in an immigration debate with Kyenge in August, also spoke out against the incident on Saturday.

"Throwing bananas, personal insults ... acts like these play no part in the civilized and democratic discussion needed between the minister and those who don't share her opinion," the ANSA news agency quoted him as saying.

http://worldnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2013/07/28/19733042-bananas-thrown-at-italys-first-black-minister?lite

[Karee 4,190]

Kyenge responded to the gesture on Twitter, calling it "sad" and a waste of food.

I love that response.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Spent 3 years in Sicily, no issues. But I guess it's different once you are in the public eye.

[elmcitymaven 9,712]

She's a class act. I could only hope I could express that sort of grace under fire.

[Teddy B 17,251]

She's a class act. I could only hope I could express that sort of grace under fire.

No bananas for Maven, I would throw Cheetos just for you.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

No bananas for Maven, I would throw Cheetos just for you.

I'm a Fritolay guy myself. I'm just saying...

[Teddy B 17,251]

I'm a Fritolay guy myself. I'm just saying...

Do you wear Uggs?

[I AM NOT THAT GUY 5,715]

Money. Throw money at me, and car keys.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Do you wear Uggs?

What are Uggs? I wear running shoes to work out, and when I out and about, I usually have on some high top AF ones or some casual dress shoes when I am with the better half.

[Teddy B 17,251]

What are Uggs? I wear running shoes to work out, and when I out and about, I usually have on some high top AF ones or some casual dress shoes when I am with the better half.

Uggs are the preferred footwear choice of CABA chicks everywhere.

[RGinWA 816]

From my experience in my own family I'd have to say that Italian's are racist. It's also fairly pervasive in a majority of the Italian males I've met.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Uggs are the preferred footwear choice of CABA chicks everywhere.

Sorry but those things don't look good to me. Whatever floats your boat, I guess.

[Teddy B 17,251]

From my experience in my own family I'd have to say that Italian's are racist. It's also fairly pervasive in a majority of the Italian males I've met.

I'm Italian and I don't think it can be said definitively that Italians are racist as a whole. I've seen some Italians that are racist, but I've seen plenty that are not. I don't think that can be said about any group of people across the board. There is good and bad in all people. I think you can find racism wherever you want to, and it's not just racism solely against blacks.

[Marilyn. 340]

UGGS don't look good to me either..

[Teddy B 17,251]

Sorry but those things don't look good to me. Whatever floats your boat, I guess.

It's all part of the CABA persona Marvin, I'm just kiddin with ya.