Read this article on The Dallas Morning News:

We must boycott United for assaulting a passenger

 

If you haven’t seen the video from last night of an Asian doctor getting bullied, beaten up, and dragged off an United Airlines plane for not volunteering to give up his seat during an “overbooked” flight situation, please click here.

Enforcing ridiculous dress codes is draconian. But ripping the shirt off someone’s back is downright cruel. Leggings are one thing, beating the shit out of someone is a whole different beast.

The Office for Civil Rights (ACR) of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) needs to investigate this matter immediately.

As noted by the Courier-Journal (part of the USA Today network):

————————————————————————–

The video, posted by Audra D. Bridges at 7:30 p.m. Sunday, is taken from an aisle seat on a commercial airplane that appears to be preparing to take flight. The 31-second clip shows three men wearing radio equipment and security jackets speaking with a man seated on the plane. 

Passengers were told at the gate that the flight was overbooked and United, offering $400 and a hotel stay, was looking for one volunteer to take another flight to Louisville at 3 p.m. Monday.

Passengers were allowed to board the flight, Bridges said, and once the flight was filled those on the plane were told that four people needed to give up their seats to stand-by United employees that needed to be in Louisville on Monday for a flight.

Passengers were told that the flight would not take off until the United crew had seats, Bridges said, and the offer was increased to $800, but no one volunteered.

Then, she said, a manager came aboard the plane and said a computer would select four people to be taken off the flight. One couple was selected first and left the airplane, she said, before the man in the video was confronted.

Bridges said the man became “very upset” and said that he was a doctor who needed to see patients at a hospital in the morning.

The manager told him that security would be called if he did not leave willingly, Bridges said, and the man said he was calling his lawyer. One security official came and spoke with him, and then another security officer came when he still refused. Then, she said, a third security official came on the plane and threw the passenger against the armrest before dragging him out of the plane.

The man was able to get back on the plane after initially being taken off – his face was bloody and he seemed disoriented, Bridges said, and he ran to the back of the plane.

Passengers asked to get off the plane as a medical crew came on to deal with the passenger, she said, and passengers were then told to go back to the gate so that officials could “tidy up” the plane before taking off.

Bridges said the man shown in the video was the only person who was forcibly removed.

“Everyone was shocked and appalled,” Bridges said. “There were several children on the flight as well that were very upset.”

———————————————————————

At no point was United Airlines’ unconscionable actions and conduct professional, courteous, or proportionate to the actions of the passenger.

The computer allegedly selected an Asian doctor and his wife to give up their seats. But you cannot blame the computer for these despicable, dehumanizing actions.

How United Airlines handled this situation was reprehensible. The “security enforcement” may ultimately have been at fault, but it was a direct result of United Airlines’ executive actions.

The security enforcement may have been the actual aggressors, but it was United Airlines who should be ultimately responsible for their actions.

I, for one, am absolutely disgusted.

For bullying an Asian doctor (or any other human being) and his wife, I will never fly United Airlines again, and I hope you will join me. We must demand respect.

It is more important than ever that we vote with our wallets. We should not support corporations who perform unconscionable acts in the names of economy and efficiency.

These unjust, unconscionable acts should not be tolerated.

Enforcing ridiculous dress codes is draconian. But tearing the shirt off someone’s back is downright cruel. Leggings are one thing, beating the shit out of someone is a whole different animal.

Doctors save lives, United Airlines assaults them. This is the legal definition of assault and battery, plain and simple.

And on behalf of the Asian doctor and his wife, I invite you to file a complaint against United Airlines for its unconscionable actions with the Office for Civil Rights (ACR) of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

#other #boycott #civilrights

*I am boycotting United Airlines because of its unconscionable actions toward another human being.

**Not because he is Asian.

***Not because he is a doctor.