RE: USA Africa Dialogue Series - FW: Bananas thrown at Italy’s first black minister

Dr. Kyenge is better than brave. She is an elightened, dignified woman. I suspect that she must be one of the better educated Italian politicians. She knows that she is breaking a race based glass ceiling in Italy. She is placing her indelible foot print on Italy's political landscape and history. The past belongs to her haters. The future belongs to her and her supporters. Her haters may only delay the inevitable' they cannot prevent it. History is on her side. More grease to her elbows.

 

oa

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From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of kenneth harrow [harrow@msu.edu]
Sent: Sunday, July 28, 2013 1:53 PM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: Re: USA Africa Dialogue Series - FW: Bananas thrown at Italy's first black minister

incredible. how brave dr kyenge must be!
ken

On 7/28/13 7:52 PM, Assensoh, Akwasi B. wrote:

Quote: "The price of hating other human beings is loving oneself less" - Eldridge Cleaver

 

Bananas thrown at Italy's first black cabinet minister, Dr. Cécile Kyenge

by Hollie Clemence

[Last updated at 5:44PM, July 27 2013]

Italian politicians have expressed outrage after bananas were thrown at the country's first black cabinet minister at a political rally.

Integration Minister, Dr. Cécile Kyenge -- a Congolese-born doctor, who has lived in Italy since 1983 -- has faced repeated racial slurs and threats since her appointment as a cabinet minister in April 2013.

Italian police are trying to identify the culprit, who threw bananas towards the stage - only narrowly missing the minister -- as Dr. Kyenge was making a speech in Cervia, central Italy on Friday.

Dr. Kyenge suggested the act was a "sad" waste of food, when people are "dying of hunger".

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

Environment Minister Andrea Orlando said 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.

"Another shameful and disgraceful gesture. Solidarity with the Minister Kyenge. Now let's just isolate the idiots," said the mayor of Rome, Gianni Alemanno.

Shortly before the 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 Dr. 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, the group has denied that any of its members threw the bananas.

Earlier this month a senator from the anti-immigration Northern League party likened Ms Kyenge to an orangutan and only apologised after he was strongly criticised by political leaders.

Last month, a local Northern League councillor suggested on Facebook that someone should rape Dr. Kyenge so that she "can understand what victims of atrocious crimes feel". The councillor was given a suspended jail sentence and a temporary ban from public office.

Today, Veneto region governor Luca Zaia, from the Northern League, who is due to participate in an immigration debate with Dr. Kyenge in August, told local media: "Throwing bananas, personal insults ... acts like these play no part in the civilised and democratic discussion needed between the minister and those who don't share her opinion."

© Times Newspapers Limited 2013 | Version 4.6.0.0(86651)

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--   kenneth w. harrow   faculty excellence advocate  distinguished professor of english  michigan state university  department of english  619 red cedar road  room C-614 wells hall  east lansing, mi 48824  ph. 517 803 8839  harrow@msu.edu

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