Line 284:
===Senate Hearing on Hate Incidents in the U.S.===
On September 17, 2024, in a hearing on [[Violent_incidents_in_reaction_to_the_Israel–Hamas_war#Attacks_against_Palestinians,_Arabs_and_MuslimsViolent incidents in reaction to the Israel–Hamas war|rising racially motivated hate crimes in the United States]], Kennedy claimed that pro-Palestinian figures promoted [[antisemitism]]. He queried Maya Berry, the incumbent executive director of the [[Arab American Institute]], on her stance towards the [[Hamas]], [[Hezbollah]] and [[Government of Iran|Iranian regime]]. He also asked Berry whether she still supported the [[UNRWA|UNWRA]] amid claims<ref>{{cite news|website=[[BBC]]|title=UN staff fired over possible links to 7 October attack|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cnvyyz8461yo}}</ref> that the organization "participated" in the [[October 7 attack|October 7 massacres]]. Berry disputed Kennedy's line of questioning, "I think it's exceptionally disappointing you're looking at an Arab American witness before you and saying you support Hamas. I do not support Hamas." Kennedy repeated the same questions, to which Berry responded, "The introduction of foreign policy is not how we keep Arab Americans or Jewish Americans or Muslim Americans or Black people or Asian Americans, anybody safe. This has been regrettably a real disappointment but very much an indication of the danger to our democratic institutions that we're in now." Upon conclusion, Kennedy insulted her, "you should hide your head in a bag."<ref>{{cite web |last1=Gregorian |first1=Dareh |title=GOP senator tells Arab American witness at hate crimes hearing to 'hide your head in a bag' |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/gop-senator-repeatedly-suggests-arab-american-witness-supports-hamas-h-rcna171565 |website=NBC News |access-date=18 September 2024}}</ref>
Kennedy's actions drew backlash from political figures, including [[Dick Durbin]] and [[Mehdi Hasan]], [[BIPOC]]-led civil rights groups and broader netizenry, some of whom described his actions as "grilling" and "[[racial profiling]]".<ref>{{citeweb|url=https://www.newsweek.com/john-kennedy-backlash-hate-crime-hearing-1956180|title=Senator John Kennedy 'Hide Your Head in a Bag' Remark Sparks Backlash|last=Rahman|first=Khaleda|publisher=[[Newsweek]]|quote="Arab, Muslim, Jewish and civil rights groups across the board have condemned @SenJohnKennedy's flagrantly racist and defamatory attack on a hearing witness yesterday," Dylan Williams, vice president of government affairs at the Center for International Policy, wrote on X.|date=September 19, 2024|accessdate=September 19, 2024}}</ref>
|
Article Images