During a Senate Judiciary Committee hearing on hate crimes, Republican Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana repeatedly accused Maya Berry, executive director of the Arab American Institute, of supporting terrorist organizations like Hamas and Hezbollah. Despite Berry’s clear denials and explanations about the offensive nature of the questioning, Kennedy continued his aggressive line of questioning, which many rights groups and committee members criticized as racist and inflammatory. The hearing, intended to address the rise in hate crimes against Jewish, Muslim, and Arab communities, highlighted the deep divisions between Republican and Democratic senators on how to tackle such issues. Senator Ted Cruz also faced interruptions from anti-Israel agitators while discussing antisemitism on college campuses. The overall tone of the hearing underscored the complexities and rising tensions in addressing hate crimes in America.