An immigrant from Ivory Coast takes office as an Italian legislator.

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The first-ever Black member of Italy’s lower chamber of parliament was admitted on Thursday.

The first day Aboubakar Soumahoro served in the legislature was full of symbolic meaning. His lowly beginnings as an immigrant farm worker more than 20 years ago are depicted by the agricultural boots.

“We shall work for those who are forced into slavery, for our boys, for the younger generation, and for the Italians who had to emigrate overseas because they were denied the opportunity to be here. This is what we’ll carry out, “Soumahoro told reporters in front of the legislature.

In the national election on September 25, the 42-year-old ran for and was elected to a position on the Green and Left party ticket. Having entered Italy illegally as a 19-year-old from the Ivory Coast in 1999, he has vowed to use his new platform to promote protection for minorities and asylum seekers.

The new right-wing government in Italy has pledged to toughen immigration laws.

“It’s been 20 years since laws like the ‘Bossi-Fini’ (law) create and produce illegality, create and produce slavery, create and produce monstrosities. I am one of the victims of the Bossi-Fini law. We can’t have in our country, in Italy, first level children and second level children. We need to grant Italian citizenship to children born and raised in our country. It’s a matter of civilisation, of dignity and also of coherence with the principles represented in our Constitution,” he said.

There are 400 deputies in the lower chamber, and Soumahoro is the lone Black lawmaker.

International outcry was caused in August when a Nigerian street vendor was slain in broad sight. The accusation that the murder was motivated by race was dismissed by Italian authorities.

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