Sen. John F. Kennedy, R-La., repeatedly called a leading Arab American activist a Hamas supporter when he testified Tuesday before the Senate Judiciary Committee on hate crimes and told him he should hide his “head in a bag.”
Activist Maya Berry repeatedly said she does not support Hamas and was “disappointed” in the minutes-long exchange toward the end of the hearing, “Threats to Justice Everywhere: Stopping the Tide of Hate Crimes in America.”
– You are the executive director of the Arab American Institute, right? Kennedy said at the beginning of the exchange. He said Kennedy was a Democratic activist and agreed with him.
“You support everyone, don’t you?” Kennedy asked, referring to the militant group behind the October 7 terrorist attacks against Israel. The question caused outrage and surprised laughter from the audience.
“Senator, oddly enough, thank you for that question because it very effectively demonstrates the purpose of our hearing today,” Berry responded. Kennedy then interrupted him and insisted that he needed a yes or no answer.
“Hamas is a foreign terrorist organization that I do not support, but the fact that you are asking the executive director of the Arab American Institute is very focused on the issue of hate in our country,” Berry responded.
“I received your reply and I appreciate it. You also support Hezbollah, don’t you?” Kennedy continued An armed group supported by Iran.
“I find this line of questioning extraordinarily disappointing,” he told Kennedy. he replied before saying.
“I don’t support violence, whether it’s Hezbollah or Hamas or any other entity that resorts to it, so no, sir,” he said.
“You can’t force yourself to say no, can you? Kennedy said. “You just can’t do it.”
He then asked her if she supported Iran and its “hatred of Jews” and she again said no.
He then mentioned his earlier criticism of Congress for cutting funding United Nations The Palestinian refugee aid organization known as UNWRA, more than 30,000 of its workers were allegedly involved in the October 7 attack. Employees were fired.
Berry said he stands by her comments and supports UNRWA’s relief work.
“Let me ask you again, you support Hamas, don’t you? Kennedy pressed.
“I think it’s extremely disappointing that you can look at an Arab-American witness before you and say you support Hamas. I don’t support Hamas,” he said.
“You know what frustrates me? Don’t support UNWRA, don’t support Hamas, don’t support Hezbollah and Iran. bag,” he finished to gasps from the audience.
In his opening statement, Berry said that hate crimes in the country usually follow anti-immigrant rhetoric and noted that hate crimes against Arab, Muslim and Jewish Americans have increased since the Oct. 7 attack.
Asked by Senate Judiciary Chairman Dick Durbin, D-Ill., if he had anything he wanted to say after the Kennedy exchange, Berry said: “As I sit here, I’m sorry to have to deal with the problem we’re trying to deal with today.
“Foreign policy enforcement is not about us keeping Arab Americans, Jewish Americans, Muslim Americans, black Americans, or Asian Americans safe, anybody. It’s a real disappointment, unfortunately, but it’s indicative of a threat to our democratic institutions. I’m coming in now,” Berry said.
Court Democrats He condemned what Kennedy said on social media on Tuesday.
“Political leaders should not fan the flames of hatred and division” Durbin wrote in X. “Jewish, Arab, Muslim, and Palestinian Americans *all* deserve to be safe.”
Kennedy’s office did not immediately respond to a request for comment.