WASHINGTON — Kerry Kennedy, the sister of Democratic presidential candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr., slammed her brother in a brief statement Monday after a report quoted him as saying Covid-19 was “meant to hit Caucasians and blacks” and that Jewish people are more immune.
“I strongly condemn my brother’s deplorable and untrue comments last week that covid is designed to target ethnic people,” Kerry Kennedy said in a statement. statement published by the nonprofit group Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights where he serves as president.
“His statements do not represent what I believe or what the human rights of Robert F. Kennedy stand for, with our track record of more than 50 years of protecting rights and fighting against racism and all forms of discrimination,” he added.
On Saturday, the New York Post published an article which included a video that appeared to show Kennedy speaking at a Manhattan dinner party about biological weapons and “ethnic targeting microbes” in which he claimed that “Covid-19 disproportionately strikes certain races.”
“Covid-19 is aimed at attacking Caucasians and Blacks. The most immune people are the Ashkenazi Jews and the Chinese,” he said, according to video published by the Post. “We don’t know if it was deliberately aimed at that or not.” A large portion of American Jews are Ashkenazi Jews, descendants of Jews who lived in Central and Eastern Europe.
NBC News has not verified the video. In a statement posted on Twitter later that day, Kennedy defended his comments, saying they were not anti-Semitic.
Former Rep. Joe Kennedy III, D-Massachusetts, also weighed in Monday, tweeting that he condemns his uncle’s comments.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has repeatedly been criticized for pushing conspiracy theories, including about vaccines.
Kerry Kennedy, RFK Jr.’s 63-year-old sister, also criticized his 69-year-old brother when he launched his presidential bid in April.
“I love my brother Bobby, but I don’t share or condone his views on many issues, including the COVID pandemic, vaccines, and the role of social media platforms in policing false information,” she said at the time. “It’s also important to note that Bobby’s views are not reflected in or influenced by the mission or work of our organization.”
Other members of his family have also rebuked the presidential hopeful over vaccine conspiracy theories and misinformation he has spread for years.
