Republican US Senator John Kennedy accused a leading Muslim civil rights advocate of supporting extremism during a Senate hearing on hate incidents in the US, drawing criticism from many rights groups. Multiple rights advocates denounced Senator Kennedy. The Democratic-led Senate Judiciary Committee, which organized Tuesday's hearing, also condemned the senator and called Berry's response to him 'powerful.' Rights advocates have warned about rising threats against American Muslims, Arabs and Jews since the eruption of Israel's war in Gaza following Hamas' Oct. 7 attack.