Lawmakers go bananas over banana throwing

Italian politicians have reacted with anger after the country's first black minister had bananas thrown at her during a political rally. Congolese-born Integration Minister Cecile Kyenge, who has suffered racial abuse in the past, 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 say they are trying to find the culprit. Responding on Twitter, Ms Kyenge called the incident "sad" and "a waste of food". But Environment Minister Andrea Orlando said on Twitter he felt the "utmost indignation" over the incident, and rightly so because it is a waste of food - in fact, it's one of the most insensitive wastes of food imaginable. According to Wikipedia, bananas are grown in at least 107 countries, primarily for their fruit; and to a lesser extent to make fibre, banana wine, and as ornamental plants - not for throwing at black people. Whoever did this should be left to rot in the slammer for a while.