A congressional hearing focused on hate crimes was marred by accusations of bigotry after Republican Senator John Kennedy told Maya Berry, the female Muslim head of a think tank, to “hide your head in a bag” and accused her of supporting Hamas and Hezbollah.
Kennedy’s comments during a Senate judiciary committee meeting drew widespread condemnation from Democrats, as well as Muslim, Jewish, and civil rights organizations. Berry, the executive director of the Arab American Institute, was the subject of this disparaging remark after being questioned about her views on these militant groups.
The hearing also faced disruptions when Republican Senator Ted Cruz was interrupted by a protester voicing concerns about the death toll of Palestinians in Gaza amidst Israel’s military actions. The protester criticized the focus on antisemitism without addressing the loss of Palestinian lives. Cruz responded to the interruption by stating, “We now have a demonstration of antisemitism,” illustrating the heated atmosphere of the proceedings.
Republican members of the committee expressed dissatisfaction with the hearing’s focus, which was framed by Democratic Chair Dick Durbin. They argued that it conflated antisemitism with discrimination against Muslims and Arabs. Senator Lindsey Graham emphasized the need for a discussion centered on the challenges faced by Jewish individuals, rather than a broader focus on hate.
A Republican-led subcommittee in the House has been holding a series of hearings on antisemitism on college campuses following the deadly Hamas attack on Israel last year. These hearings led to the resignation of two university leaders over their inadequate responses to inquiries about institutional policies regarding antisemitism.
During the Senate hearing, Graham questioned Berry about whether she believed Hamas and Hezbollah aimed to destroy Israel. Berry characterized these questions as complex and ultimately confronted Kennedy when he asked if she supported Hamas, to which she firmly stated that she did not. Kennedy expressed disappointment at her answers and made his controversial remark.
In response, Berry highlighted the relevance of her experiences to the hate crimes discourse, expressing regret over the treatment she received during the hearing. The judiciary committee, with Durbin’s approval, later posted her response on social media, emphasizing the inappropriateness of Kennedy’s comments while amplifying her powerful rebuttal.
The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) criticized Kennedy and other Republicans for their treatment of Berry, reiterating the need for respect during discussions about hate crimes. The American Civil Liberties Union condemned the personal attacks on an invited witness, calling them out-of-line during a hearing dedicated to such critical issues.
Sheila Katz, CEO of the National Council of Jewish Women, echoed these sentiments, expressing disappointment over the questions directed at Berry, which perpetuated discrimination rather than confronting hate.