GOP senator launches racist attack on witness at hate crimes hearing
Republican Sen. John Kennedy of Louisiana attacked a witness at a hearing on hate crimes using a line of racist questioning so vile that it could serve as a handbook for why hate crime legislation is necessary. In a string of sneering statements, Kennedy accused Maya Berry—the executive director of the Arab American Institute—of supporting terrorists, then refused to allow her to respond, then ignored what she said as he continued the attack.
The hearing was meant to look at the rise in hate speech and reported hate crimes across the nation, including those directed at both Jewish and Muslim communities amid the latest war between Israel and Hamas. And Kennedy turned it into a live demonstration of how to increase the hate.
In a series of questions, the senator asked Berry if she supported Hamas. When she said she did not support Hamas and made it clear the question was offensive, Kennedy talked over her and went on as if she hadn’t provided a response. He then repeated this act with the militant group Hezbollah. And then Iran. Then with a United Nations program that Kennedy unfairly painted as supporting terrorists.