240,000 dollars awarded to man forced to cover Arab T-shirt
#1
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Original Poster
Join Date: Dec 2003
Location: Miami, FL
Programs: AA EXP/Marriott Plat/Hertz PC
Posts: 12,724
240,000 dollars awarded to man forced to cover Arab T-shirt
http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20090106...s_090106002219
NEW YORK (AFP) – An airline passenger forced to cover his T-shirt because it displayed Arabic script has been awarded 240,000 dollars in compensation, campaigners said Monday.
Raed Jarrar received the pay out on Friday from two US Transportation Security Authority officials and from JetBlue Airways following the August 2006 incident at New York's JFK Airport, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) announced.
"The outcome of this case is a victory for free speech and a blow to the discriminatory practice of racial profiling," said Aden Fine, a lawyer with ACLU.
Raed Jarrar received the pay out on Friday from two US Transportation Security Authority officials and from JetBlue Airways following the August 2006 incident at New York's JFK Airport, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) announced.
"The outcome of this case is a victory for free speech and a blow to the discriminatory practice of racial profiling," said Aden Fine, a lawyer with ACLU.
#2
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: ORD
Programs: AA Platinum, HHonors Diamond
Posts: 1,177
According to the article, the t-shirt translated to, "we shall not be silent." My guess is no one there read Arabic, so the t-shirt could have said, "My Brother went to Las Vegas and all I got was this lousy t-shirt," and he still would have had to cover it.
In middle school I wore a t-shirt that Screw Reagan! The principal made me cover it. Of course, it was in English. If it had been in Arabic, I probably would have gotten away with it.
I guess more are even more ignorant now.
In middle school I wore a t-shirt that Screw Reagan! The principal made me cover it. Of course, it was in English. If it had been in Arabic, I probably would have gotten away with it.
I guess more are even more ignorant now.
#3
Join Date: Nov 2008
Posts: 3,657
#4
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Nov 2002
Location: ORD
Posts: 14,231
I already posted this in the main thread on this topic:
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...es-tsa-b6.html
http://www.flyertalk.com/forum/trave...es-tsa-b6.html
#7
Join Date: Feb 2008
Programs: AA Plat, Hyatt Gold, Marriott Silver, Starwood Gov't, Choice Gold
Posts: 56
Oh good, does this mean I can wear my shirt that says:
"You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body...but you will never imprison my mind"
written in Arabic and I won't get hassled? (Oh, and because TSA doesn't profile based on looks - I'm pale, blond & blue)
"You can chain me, you can torture me, you can even destroy this body...but you will never imprison my mind"
written in Arabic and I won't get hassled? (Oh, and because TSA doesn't profile based on looks - I'm pale, blond & blue)