Italy's first black minister Kyenge now suffers 'banana insult' following 'orangutan slur'

Italian senators have reacted angrily after the country's first black government minister had bananas thrown at her during a political rally.

Cecile Kyenge, who was born in the Democratic Republic of the Congo but has Italian citizenship, has faced repeated racial slurs since being appointed minister for integration in April.

According to the BBC, responding to the incident on Twitter, Kyenge called the incident sad, dismissing the act as 'a waste of food'.

Kyenge was speaking at a Democratic Party (PD) rally in Cervia on Friday when an unidentified spectator threw bananas towards the stage, narrowly missing her.

Italian police said that they are trying to find the culprit.

 

Italian politicians rallied behind her on Saturday with messages of support and condemnation.

Education Minister Maria Chiara Carrozza praised Ms Kyenge for her courage and determination in such a hostile climate, the report added.