'Hide your head in a bag': Republican draws gasps over 'racist' attack on Arab-American

A Republican senator in Louisiana drew audible gasps as he made racially charged remarks against the head of the Arab-American Institute during a hearing aimed at discussing the prevalence of hate crimes, The Washington Post reported.

As Maya Berry tried to explain that hate crimes against Arabs and Jews in the U.S. were up a respective 73 percent and 58 percent, over a period when hate crimes as a whole rose only 7 percent, Sen. John Kennedy (R-LA) — who has been criticized previously for his comments on racially charged issues, repeatedly demanded that Berry disavow any allegiance to various Islamist terror organizations.

“By focusing on hate crime statistics, the federal government’s role in hate crime enforcement, and recommendations for policy remedies, I hope my testimony can help inform our collective response to combat all forms of hate,” said Berry. Shortly after that, Kennedy asked her, "You support Hamas, don't you?"

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“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 said. “Hamas is a foreign terrorist organization that I do not support, but you asking the executive director of the Arab American Institute that question very much puts the focus on the issue of hate in our country.”

Kennedy, undeterred by this point or by her clear statement she did not support Hamas, continued to repeatedly ask if she supported Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran, or their "hatred of Jews" — and particularly took issue with her criticism of the U.S. decision to cut off aid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, which aids Palestinian refugees but has been accused by Israel of employing a handful of people who participated in the Oct. 7 attacks.

“I think it’s exceptionally disappointing that you’re looking at an Arab American witness before you and saying you support Hamas. I do not support Hamas,” said Berry.

Kennedy replied, “You know what’s disappointing to me? You can’t bring yourself to say don’t support UNRWA, you don’t support Hamas, you don’t support Hezbollah and you don’t support Iran. You should hide your head in a bag.”

The insult led audience members to object and gasp.

Asked for comment by The Post, Berry said, “I didn’t expect a direct racist attack.”