Cécile Kyenge: The bravest woman in EU politics today

Many people across Italy celebrated the fact that Cecile Kyenge become Italy’s first Black Minister. Her portfolio is Intergration. One of her tasks has been to change Italian citizenship law from ‘blood line’ to anyone who is born on Italian soil. Here we must remember that millions of Italians born in countries such as the USA have automatically been given US citizenship. Kyenge wants the same to apply in Italy.

However, ever since she has been appointed Minister, Kyenge, who herself was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo has been subjected to daily racial abuse. Over the weekend at a rally in Cervia, Central Italy when Kyenge was speaking a spectator began throwing bananas at her, which  narrowly missed. Her retort, full of humility and one suspects sadness was to tell the racist that his action was a ‘waste of good food.’

But it's not just  bananas that Italy’s first Black Minister has to dodge, the gross insults such as being likened to an Orangutan come from an Italian senator. Even worse than the insults are the threats of violence included one from a local councilor who argued that Kyenge should be raped so that she understands ‘how victims of crime committed by immigrants feel.’

Many politicians would capitulate from this deluge of abuse and sickening threats, but not Kyenge, she’s made of stronger stuff.

Let’s send Italy’s brave Minister a message of support from Black and white Britons and Italians living in the UK.

Keep strong Cecile Kyenge, keep doing the right thing!

Simon Woolley