A mixed-race couple has sued American Airlines after their workers allegedly called the cops on them. The worried flight crew claimed that the black husband was sex trafficking his white wife, but this was false.
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Newlyweds Racially Profiled And Wrongly Detained
According to CBS 5 Arizona, the couple was taking a flight in September 2022 to their honeymoon in Miami. The newlyweds managed to snap a photo on that flight, showing 63-year-old Anthony Williams and 34-year-old Katsiaryna Shasholka.
A passenger ruined their trip when they notified the flight crew of their suspicions that Williams was trafficking Shasholka. Without further investigation, the workers believed them, and called the Miami-Dade police.
Upon landing, the couple was "falsely imprisoned by American Airlines employees who escorted them off of the plane [and] were made to wait, confused and embarrassed, as the other passengers deplaned and walked by them," the lawsuit explained.
The federal complaint said that the passenger "had no reason to believe...Shasholka was in any danger," as per The Independent. This left the newlyweds "humiliated" after being questioned and detained. The awful experience also caused the two "mental pain and suffering, sleeplessness, paranoia, panic attacks, fear, anxiety, [and] embarrassment," the complaint read.
Couple Sued American Airlines For Racial Discrimination
In return for all the damages, the couple is looking for $75,000. Jasmine Rand filed the suit for them, a renowned civil rights attorney who represented George Floyd and Trayvon Martin. These were both unarmed black men who were killed unjustly back in 2020 and 2012, respectively.
"There was nothing in our interactions the entire flight that would be indicative of somebody who was being held against their will," Williams said to the outlet. "We were just two people having a good time."
Although the airline suggested the couple make a complaint, they never heard back from them. Although the incident has passed, the effects continue to linger as the husband suffered a panic attack while recently flying to Dubai.
Rand explained to the outlet how Williams was a retired police officer. "He spent his life fighting crime, and now to be accused of a crime so heinous as trafficking his own wife is unfathomable. He is committed to fighting for justice for himself and for others that have suffered racial discrimination at the hands of American Airlines"
In response to the suit, American Airlines had a spokesperson speak up on its behalf. "American strives to provide a positive experience to everyone who travels with us. We are reviewing the allegations of the complaint."
From January 9, American Airlines has 21 days to give a response to the suit.
