GOP Sen. John Kennedy To Arab American Witness: ‘You Assist Hamas, Do not You?’

WASHINGTON — Sen. John Kennedy (R-La.) on Tuesday baselessly accused an Arab American witness of supporting terrorists throughout a Senate listening to, and as she known as out his blatant Islamophobia, the GOP senator instructed her to “hide her head in a bag.”

Kennedy lashed out at Maya Berry, government director of the Arab American Institute, a nonpartisan nationwide civil rights advocacy group, throughout her testimony earlier than a Senate Judiciary Committee listening to centered on stemming hate crimes. Berry was the one Muslim witness within the listening to.

“You support Hamas, do you not?” Kennedy abruptly requested Berry, referring to the terrorist group behind the Oct. 7 assaults on southern Israel. His query drew audible gasps within the viewers.

“Senator, oddly enough, I’m going to say thank you for that question, because it demonstrates the purpose of our hearing today,” Berry responded. “Hamas is a foreign terrorist organization that I do not support. But you asking the executive director of the Arab American Institute that question very much puts the focus on the issue of hate in our country.”

A number of individuals within the viewers clapped after she spoke.

However Kennedy continued in the identical vein, asking if she helps Hezbollah, an Islamist political get together and paramilitary group that’s additionally a chosen terrorist group.

“Again, I find this line of questioning extraordinarily disappointing, senator,” Berry started to reply as Kennedy talked over her, demanding she give a sure or no response.

“The answer is I don’t support violence whether it’s Hezbollah, Hamas or any other entity that invokes it,” she lastly acquired out. “So no, sir.”

“You can’t bring yourself to say no, can you?” Kennedy replied, even after she mentioned no.

The GOP senator pressed on, elevating his voice, asking Berry if she helps Iran and speaking over her as she tried to reply his questions. Somebody began yelling within the viewers as Kennedy stored speaking.

“I think it’s exceptionally disappointing that you’re looking at an Arab American witness before you and saying, ‘You support Hamas,’” Berry mentioned, as she repeatedly rejected his claims that she helps terrorist teams.

“You should hide your head in a bag,” Kennedy lastly mentioned, drawing loud outcry from some within the viewers.

A Kennedy spokeswoman didn’t instantly reply to a request for remark.

Right here’s a video clip of their trade:

Kennedy’s remedy of Berry drew virtually on the spot condemnation from each Muslim and Jewish organizations.

“Maya Berry went before the committee to discuss hate crimes. Both Ms. Berry and the topic should have been treated with the respect and seriousness they deserve,” Robert McCaw of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy group, mentioned in a press release.

“Instead, Sen. Kennedy and others chose to be an example of the bigotry Arabs, Palestinians and Muslims have faced in recent months and years,” McCaw mentioned.

Sheila Katz, the CEO of the Nationwide Council of Jewish Ladies, known as Kennedy’s remedy of Berry “heartbreaking” in a submit on social media.

“Heartbreaking scene at a Senate hearing on antisemitism, anti-Arab & anti-Muslim hate: the only Muslim witness faced biased questions about supporting Hamas & Hezbollah despite her clear condemnations,” Katz wrote on social media. “This hearing should combat hate, not perpetuate it. The Senate must do better.”