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GOP senator tells Arab American witness at hate crimes hearing to 'hide your head in a bag' (www.nbcnews.com)

submitted 3 months ago by Silverseren@fedia.io to c/politics@lemmy.world

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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.

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[-] prole@lemmy.blahaj.zone 7 points 3 months ago* (last edited 3 months ago)

He was also allegedly a lawyer at some point, but I find that difficult to believe.

It's like something happens to a boomer's brain when they hit 40 that just drains any intelligence or empathy the person might have once had, and it's replaced with selfishness and cruelty.

Lead really did a number on this country.

[-] JusticeForPorygon@lemmy.world 4 points 3 months ago

Crazy that this is the same generation that grew up protesting the Vietnam War

[-] themoken@startrek.website 7 points 3 months ago

Yeah, but you see they were in danger from the Vietnam draft, doesn't take empathy to act in self interest.

[-] JusticeForPorygon@lemmy.world 2 points 3 months ago

True

this post was submitted on 18 Sep 2024

383 points (99.0% liked)

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