Originally Posted by
jetBlueNYFL
My personal opinion is that I fully support and back freedom of speech, however, we live in a time (post-9/11) of uncertainty and high alert. Although this particular man is an honest, non-harmful human being who even works for a peace organization, the fact that his shirt shows Arabic writing saying "We Will Not Be Silent" is uncomforting to see at an airport. What does that mean? That's like trying to send a message.
And, in the United States, "sending a message" is protected by the First Amendment. It doesn't matter what it means. The passenger had an
absolute right to say it.
If anything, JetBlue was very fair in that they purchased him a new shirt.
Jet Blue, as a private corporation, cannot violate anyone's First Amendment rights. TSA, as a government actor, can.
His claim that the TSA should have told everyone that it's fine is just not enough. Why shoul X amount of people be inconvenienced and scared because of one person's shirt?
You might want to read Cohen v. Superior Court. Political speech is a core value of the First Amendment.
It's not the Arabic writing that I have a problem with, it is the phrase that it translates to AND it being at an airport in today's world.
You definitely need to read the Cohen case.