A congressional hearing addressing hate crimes was marred by accusations of bigotry, following a controversial remark made by Republican Senator John Kennedy towards Maya Berry, the female Muslim head of the Arab American Institute. Kennedy suggested she should “hide your head in a bag” and accused her of supporting Hamas and Hezbollah, prompting widespread condemnation from Democrats as well as Muslim, Jewish, and civil liberties groups.
The hearing, organized by the Senate judiciary committee, was further disrupted when Senator Ted Cruz faced a protester who called attention to the significant number of Palestians killed during the recent conflict in Gaza. The protester shouted, “Talk about the 40,000. Talk about all these people. Why is it about antisemitism?” before being removed from the chamber. Cruz responded to the disruption by claiming it was a demonstration of antisemitism and hate.
Republicans criticized the hearing’s focus, which was led by Democratic Chair Dick Durbin, arguing that it inappropriately conflated antisemitism with discrimination against Muslims, Arabs, and other groups. Senator Lindsey Graham articulated that the original intention was to discuss the challenges Jewish students face today but felt that the hearing strayed from this aim.
In the House of Representatives, a Republican-led subcommittee had already conducted a series of emotional hearings centered on the rise of antisemitism on college campuses, spurred by the Hamas attack on Israel last October, which resulted in significant casualties and an ongoing Israeli military response. These hearings led to the resignations of two university heads over their inadequate responses to questions about campus policies regarding calls for violence against Jews.
Graham attempted to question Berry about whether Hamas, Hezbollah, or Iran aimed to destroy the Jewish state, to which Berry responded that the questions were complex and rather disappointing. Kennedy’s aggressive interrogation culminated in his derogatory remark about her needing to hide her head, which Berry criticized as indicative of the very hate the hearing sought to address.
Berry later reflected that it was regrettable to face such hostility while discussing the issues at hand, highlighting the threat to democratic institutions. The judiciary committee, with Durbin’s approval, shared Berry’s statement online, reaffirming her experience of the hate they intended to discuss.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations condemned the treatment of Berry, emphasizing the need for respect in discussing such significant issues. They highlighted that her experience exemplified the bigotry faced by Arabs, Palestinians, and Muslims in recent times. Additionally, Anthony Romero, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union, criticized the attacks on Berry as inappropriate during a hearing meant to address rising hate crimes.
Sheila Katz, CEO of the National Council of Jewish Women, lamented Berry’s treatment, stressing that the hearing’s purpose should have been to combat hate, not perpetuate it, demanding improvement from the Senate.