Department of International Research and Studies 20-09-2024

At a U.S. Senate hearing addressing the alarming increase in hate crimes, an Arab American activist came under intense questioning regarding Hamas and pro-Gaza student protests.

The Senate Judiciary Committee session, held in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday, was intended to examine the rise in hate crimes, a troubling trend amplified by the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza. However, several Republican senators used the platform to criticize students supporting Palestinian rights and aimed their frustration at Maya Berry, the executive director of the Arab American Institute, the hearing’s only Arab American witness.

Louisiana Republican Senator John Kennedy aggressively questioned Berry, asking her outright, “Do you support Hamas?” Berry responded firmly, “No,” attempting to steer the conversation back to domestic hate crime issues rather than international conflicts.

“I appreciate the question because it highlights the very issue we’re here to address today,” Berry replied, pointing to the hate and dehumanization she had been discussing. Kennedy, however, persisted, accusing her of also supporting Hezbollah, a Lebanese militant group. Berry dismissed the question as “disappointing.”

The senator then shifted the focus to Berry’s opposition to U.S. Congress cutting funding to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestinian refugees, which she had previously criticized as a moral failure. Kennedy pressed her further, asking if she supported Hamas once more, despite her repeated denials.

Undeterred by her responses, Kennedy concluded his line of questioning by accusing Berry of evading the issue and suggesting, “You should hide your head in a bag.”

Escalating Tensions and Rising Hate Crimes

Advocacy organizations have reported an increase in hate crimes targeting Arab and Muslim Americans since the conflict in Gaza intensified. Notable incidents include the tragic death of a six-year-old Palestinian American boy in Illinois, who was fatally stabbed in an attack motivated by hatred, and the shooting of three students in Vermont, one of whom was left paralyzed.

Despite the hearing’s intended focus on addressing all forms of hate crimes, Republican senators appeared frustrated that anti-Semitism, allegedly spurred by Palestinian rights demonstrations on college campuses, wasn’t the central issue. Jewish student groups have claimed that these protests compromise their safety, accusations that Palestinian rights advocates strongly reject. They argue that their activism is aimed at ending what they describe as their universities’ involvement in atrocities against Palestinians.

During the hearing, several senators made unfounded claims linking student protesters to Hamas and questioned Berry about slogans and chants at these demonstrations, as well as Iran’s broader policies in the Middle East.

Reflecting on the hostility she faced during the hearing, Berry expressed her dismay. “It’s unfortunate that I’ve personally encountered the very issue we’re trying to tackle today,” she said. “This focus on foreign policy does nothing to ensure the safety of Arab Americans, Jewish Americans, Muslims, or any other community.”

Her closing remarks underscored her disappointment with the proceedings, emphasizing that the politicization of these issues signals a growing threat to democratic values.