Sen. Kennedy Accuses Arab American Witness of Supporting Hamas, Hezbollah During Hate Crimes Hearing

Sep 17, 2024, 08:31 PM

During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on hate crimes, Senator John Kennedy (R-La.) accused Maya Berry, executive director of the Arab American Institute, of supporting extremist groups such as Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran. Kennedy's questioning included telling Berry to 'hide her head in a bag,' which sparked significant backlash. Berry, who was the only Arab American Muslim witness at the hearing, denied supporting Hamas and Hezbollah but emphasized her commitment to human rights and civil rights. The hearing, initially focused on hate crimes, including the Tree of Life victims and 6-year-old Wadea al-Fayoume, was marred by Kennedy's controversial remarks.