Sen. John Kennedy, R-La., repeatedly suggested a leading Arab American activist is a Hamas supporter when she testified Tuesday at a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on hate crimes, and he told her she should hide her “head in a bag.”
The activist, Maya Berry, said repeatedly that she did not support Hamas and was “disappointed” by the minuteslong exchange toward the end of a hearing called “A Threat to Justice Everywhere: Stemming the Tide of Hate Crimes in America.”
“You are the executive director of the Arab American Institute, are you not?” Kennedy said at the beginning of the exchange. She said she was and agreed with Kennedy that she is a Democratic activist.
“You support Hamas, do you not?” Kennedy asked, referring to the militant group behind the Oct. 7 terrorist attacks on Israel. The question prompted gasps and surprised laughs from the audience.
“Senator, oddly enough, I’m going to say thank you for that question, because it demonstrates the purpose of our hearing today in a very effective way,” Berry responded. Kennedy then cut her off and insisted he needed a yes-or-no answer.
I can demand that my government quit funding it with my tax dollars.
You could demand your government quit funding what they’re doing themselves kills people too… but I don’t see you doing that.
Did you demand they stop funding attacks after the half million middle eastern civilians were killed by allied forces during the invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq?
Do you demand they stop funding Ukraine because it’s now invading Russia? The government is even thinking of now approving even more use of US military aid and technologies to hit further into Russia.
This is peak whataboutism.
Yes, I did, actually. In fact, I did that before a half million were killed. I was always against both wars. What’s your point?
No, because Russia is the aggressor here. Ukraine is a sovereign nation. Just like Palestine would be if not for Israel.
Wait, you think Israel is the aggressor?
You’re aware that the UN voted to create Israel from the rubble of the Ottoman empire, and 5 neighboring countries disagreed and violently invaded them literally the day after they declared independence right?
Some of those same countries (and others now) are still supporting the Palestinians with money and weapons to continue to attack Israel.