Racist taunts against Italy 's first black minister , Cecile Kyenge , took another ugly turn over the weekend when someone hurled bananas at her during a rally . Kyenge 's appointment as Italy 's minister of integration three months ago is n't sitting well with right-wing radicals whose racial slurs and antics have overshadowed her tenure . The banana incident is just the latest . It took place Friday in Cervia , where Kyenge was speaking to supporters . A man popped up out of the crowd and launched two bananas toward the podium , Kyenge spokesman Cosimo Torlo said . The bananas fell short of the stage , landing between the first and second row of spectators . Giancarlo Mazzuca , chief editor of the daily newspaper Il Giorno , was sitting two chairs away from Kyenge . `` I was able to verify which levels can be reached by human stupidity , '' he wrote in a column . Police have n't found the person who hurled the bananas . There will be increased security around the minister , Torlo said . Kyenge shrugged off the episode -- as she has with the other incidents . In a Twitter post , she called it a sad waste of food when so many people are dying of hunger . Kyenge , who was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo , moved to Italy in the 1980s to study medicine . She became an Italian citizen and is an ophthalmologist in Modena . While her ascent to a top government position reflects the success of immigrants , it also has stoked nativism . Ominous mannequins . Just before Kyenge arrived for Friday 's rally , a group smeared blood-red paint and anti-immigrant messages onto mannequins . `` Immigration kills , '' read signs attached to the dummies . The far-right political group Forza Nuova ( `` New Force '' ) claimed responsibility for the mannequins . The scene was also littered with fliers that said Italy 's future growth depends on `` protecting the Italian identity , '' according to the ANSA news agency . Insults from other politicians . Two weeks ago , Italian Sen. Roberto Calderoli likened Kyenge to an orangutan . Calderoli , a member of the anti-immigration Northern League party , made the remarks at a political rally . `` I love animals -- bears and wolves , as everyone knows -- but when I see the pictures of Kyenge , I can not but think of , even if I 'm not saying she is one , the features of an orangutan , '' he was quoted as saying . After his comments were published , Calderoli said `` if I 've offended her , I apologize . '' `` It was a joke , a comment in a joking way . There was nothing particularly against her , '' he said . `` It was just my impression . ... It is all very well that she be a minister but in her own country . Given that this government needs to govern Italy , I hope that it is done by Italians . '' Kyenge responded diplomatically , saying Calderoli `` does not need to ask forgiveness to me , but he should rather reflect on the political and institutional role that he carries . It is on this that he needs to make a profound reflection also to then apologize . '' She added , `` Also , he must go beyond putting everything on a personal level . I think the time has come for us to study the problem of communication . '' Death threats . Kyenge has also received death threats before visiting an area where the Northern League is powerful . A local politician recently said on Facebook that Kyenge should be raped so she can understand the pain felt by victims of crime , which some politicians blame on immigrants . She 's been called a `` Congolese monkey , '' `` Zulu '' and `` the black anti-Italian . '' One Northern League official said `` she seems like a great housekeeper '' but `` not a government minister . '' Italian Prime Minister Enrico Letta appealed to Northern League leader Roberto Maroni to `` close this chapter right away . '' Read more : Racist abuse of AC Milan star investigated . Tensions over immigrants . Italy has been experiencing its highest level of unemployment in more than 20 years . In tough times , some Italians focus their anger on immigrants , Mazzuca , the newspaper editor , told CNN . `` The economic crisis is worsening the situation , '' he said . `` Jobs that until a few years ago would n't have even been considered by Italians are now becoming precious . '' There have recently been more and more reports of Italians beating foreigners , particularly street vendors , Mazzuca said . He said does n't believe that Italians generally are racists and hopes Kyenge will be able to ease racial tensions . `` I really think that Kyenge is the right person in the right place , '' he said . `` As an eye doctor , she is able to see in the distance . ''
Cecile Kyenge has been the target of death threats and racist antics . She became Italy 's first black government minister in April . Newspaper editor says the bad economy has contributed to racial tensions .