During a recent Senate Judiciary Committee hearing, a tense exchange occurred between Senator John Kennedy and civil rights advocate Berry. Kennedy asked Berry if she supported groups like Hamas or Hezbollah, to which she firmly responded, “I don’t support violence, whether it’s Hezbollah or Hamas or any other entity that invokes it.”
Kennedy pressed further, inquiring about her stance on Iran’s attitude towards Jews. Despite attempts to clarify her position, Kennedy interrupted Berry as she stated, “As a Muslim woman, sir, I’m going to tell you I do not support Iran.”
Kennedy then referenced Berry’s previous criticisms of Congress for reducing funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), which assists Palestinian refugees and has faced scrutiny after some workers were linked to the October 7 attack. Berry maintained her belief in the UNRWA’s humanitarian work.
Kennedy challenged her again, suggesting she supported Hamas, which prompted Berry to express her discontent over being stereotyped as supporting violent groups simply based on her background. “I do not support Hamas,” she asserted.
In response to Kennedy’s provocative remarks, which drew gasps from the audience, Berry noted, “It’s regrettable that I, as I sit here, have experienced the very issue that we’re attempting to deal with today.” She emphasized that foreign policy should not be used to endanger any American community and described the situation as a disappointment revealing dangers to democratic institutions.
Senate Judiciary Chair Dick Durbin criticized Kennedy’s comments on social media, stating the importance of unity and safety among all communities, including Jewish, Arab, Muslim, and Palestinian Americans. The Judiciary Committee showed support for Berry by sharing her remarks on social media, condemning the derogatory comment made by Kennedy.