Posted on: Thursday, November 20, 2003
United settles complaints of ethnic discrimination
By Leslie Miller
Associated Press
WASHINGTON — The government announced yesterday it reached a settlement with United Airlines over complaints the airline discriminated against passengers who were perceived to be of Arab, Middle Eastern or Southeast Asian descent after the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks.
The airline, which is under bankruptcy protection, agreed to spend about $1.5 million over three years for civil rights training to employees who have contact with the public.
United spokesman Jason Schechter said the airline didn't break any anti-discrimination laws.
"We affirmatively deny that any passenger was ever removed from a flight or denied boarding because of ethnic background or national origin after Sept. 11," Schechter said.
The government said in a statement its investigations revealed United had unlawfully removed passengers or denied boarding because of their race, color, national origin, religion, or ancestry.
Kareem Shora, legal adviser to the American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, applauded the settlement.
He said the anti-discrimination committee compiled at least 82 cases in which airlines removed passengers because of their ethnic origin in the nine months after the terrorist attacks. The complaints declined substantially after the committee brought lawsuits against three airlines, including one against United, he said.
A hearing has yet to be scheduled.
Shora said the committee anticipated problems after the attacks and asked the airlines to teach their employees about its passengers' cultures.
For example, he said, airline employees need to know that it's considered normal for a Muslim to say a few lines of the Quran before takeoff, and not an indication that he's a terrorist.
The government also brought charges against American Airlines in April for discriminating against Southeast Asian, Muslim or Middle Eastern passengers in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks.
A hearing on the complaint is pending.
