Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana repeatedly suggested to Arab American activist Maya Berry that she supported Hamas during a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on hate crimes. Despite her repeated denials of supporting Hamas or any other violent entity, Kennedy persisted with his line of questioning, also asking about her support for Hezbollah and Iran. Berry expressed disappointment at Kennedy’s insinuations and emphasized that focusing on foreign policy was not relevant to addressing hate crimes in America. Kennedy’s remarks were criticized by Democratic members of the committee, who emphasized the importance of not promoting hatred and division. Berry highlighted the danger to democratic institutions posed by such actions. The exchange between Kennedy and Berry exemplified the challenges faced by minority communities in the country. Berry stated that hate crimes often follow anti-immigrant rhetoric and noted a surge in attacks against Arab, Muslim, and Jewish Americans after a recent terrorist incident. The incident underscored the need to address hate crimes and protect the safety of all Americans. Kennedy’s office did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the matter.
Photo credit
www.nbcnews.com
Republican Senator advises Arab American witness at hate crimes hearing to ‘conceal your identity’
Previous article![]( "Breaking News: Lebanon rocked by explosions targeting Hezbollah members as pagers go off across the country – CNN")
Next article![]( "Pedestrian fatally struck on the side of I-495 in Maryland – NBC Washington")
