NEWYou can now listen to Fox News articles!
Sen. Rick Scott., R-Fla., was confronted by activists from the far-left group CodePink, accusing the senator of backing policies they claimed harmed civilians in Gaza and Cuba.
CodePink is known for regularly hosting anti-American street protests and badgering Republican lawmakers on Capitol Hill.
The group has also received funding to allegedly spread pro-China propaganda from American Marxist tech tycoon Neville Roy Singham — whose ties to the Chinese Communist Party have drawn scrutiny. One of CodePink’s co-founders, Jodie Evans, is married to Singham.
LAWMAKERS RAISE ALARM OVER NEVILLE ROY SINGHAM’S $278M NETWORK SPREADING CCP PROPAGANDA IN THE U.S.
Neville Roy Singham and Jodie Evans celebrate their wedding in Ocho Rios, Jamaica, in February 2017 with actor Danny Glover speaking behind them. (Osbourne Chin/Chinphotographic)
«Absolutely,» Scott said when asked by protestors whether Israel was acting in the name of freedom.
«They’re committing a genocide,» one protestor said to Scott. «That’s freedom to you?»
«How about the Palestinians? Does it bother you what Hamas did?» Scott fired back.
Madea Benjamin, the other co-founder of CodePink, was among the crowd following and shouting at Scott. She questioned Scott on recent U.S. strikes on Iran.
«Does it bother you that the U.S. is now bombing Iran unprovoked,» Benjamin said to Scott as she continued following him.
TRUMP WELCOMES NETANYAHU TO WHITE HOUSE AS RAGING IRAN WAR THREATENS TO SOUR US-ISRAEL RELATIONSHIP
«Oh, you’re back to wanting to be destroyed by a nuclear weapon,» Scott responded. «That’s where you are. You’re back to that part.»
One agitator responded by arguing that Israel also has nuclear weapons.
«Nuclear weapons is your issue?» the protestor asked. «What about the hundreds of nuclear weapons that Israel has?»
Scott continued engaging with the protesters as they followed him through the hallway, with both sides repeatedly interrupting one another.
Sen. Rick Scott, R-Fla., said that Senate Democrats wouldn’t take the shutdown seriously until flight delays and cancellations started to stack up. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)
Benjamin continued going after Scott, arguing both his support for Israel and for continued efforts in Iran is impacting Americans’ safety.
«You are making us less safe with this war in Iran, with the support for Israel,» Benjamin said to Scott.
The confrontation then escalated beyond the Middle East, with Benjamin accusing Scott of supporting U.S. sanctions on Cuba and arguing the restrictions were contributing to worsening conditions in the country.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE FOX NEWS APP
«You are killing children in Cuba,» Benjamin said.
«You are killing Cuban citizens with the blockade, not allowing any oil to get there,» she said. «That’s what’s killing Cuban citizens right now.»
