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Amid an Ohio House and Senate hearing on whether racism should be declared a public health crisis, one Italian Republican tried to center himself over his Black peers.

In a Facebook post, Rep. Nino Vitale from Urbana said that he was “darker” than most of the members of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, according to Springfield News-Sun.

This is a photo of Vitale:

This is a photo of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus:

Vitale went on to say that he was made fun of for his skin color and name when he was a kid.

Stephanie Howse, the president of the Ohio Legislative Black Caucus, didn’t approve of Vitale’s comments, saying the discussion on racism as a public health issue didn’t warrant Vitale’s post.

When House Speaker Larry Householder, R-Glenford, was asked about the post, he responded, “I’m not Rep. Vitale and obviously I’m not black so I really can’t tell you how that comment is taken.”