The following statement was issued as a press release and sent to Scott Kirby, President of American Airlines:
For Immediate Release: April 18, 2016
Media Contact:
Carol Burris 718-577-3276 cburris@networkforpubliceducation.org
The Network for Public Education (NPE) expresses its outrage about American Airlines’ decision to remove the Reverend Dr. William Barber II from a late night flight from DC to Raleigh. Reverend Barber was removed after a passenger seated behind him made hostile comments.
Reverend Barber is one of the nation’s most eminent civil rights leaders. He is the president of the North Carolina NAACP and founder of the Moral Mondays movement, which leads protests in support of equality and justice. He should have received the same courteous treatment that all passengers expect.
As it happens, he was flying to Raleigh to address our annual convention on Saturday morning. When he arrived late, he did not mention what had happened to him. He spoke eloquently about the necessity of eliminating racism and establishing justice for all.
We call upon American Airlines to issue an official apology to Rev. Barber, reimbursement for any expenses he incurred as a consequence of this unfortunate incident, and to award him Elite Platinum status so he can be sure of being treated with dignity in the future by the staff of American Airlines.
Diane Ravitch, President of NPE, said, “There is little doubt in my view that Reverend Barber was taken off the flight through no fault of his own but because he is a black man. Had I been in his place, I as a white woman would not have been kicked off the flight. American Airlines should show their regrets by apologizing to him and protecting him from future actions of this kind, which reflect poorly on the judgment of AA’s staff at Washington Reagan Airport.”
Ravitch sent a letter to the President of American Airlines today insisting that Reverend Barber be given the above consideration.
Diane Ravitch's blog 
This is a troubling trend. Passengers complaining about other passengers for specious reasons. My solution? Ban the complainer and/or remove them from the flight.
In an age of complaining, we have fallen victim to the idea that there is power in making endless noise. What’s that old saying: the empty can rattles the most?
Do you recommend silence and acquiescence?
Not I!
SORRY. I was referring to Trump.
My error
Sorry
I am a big fan of your writing and educational activism.
When the leading candidate for a major party represents bigotry, when the second nominee wants to deprive women of their legal rights, and when some of the newest laws restrict civil liberties, you know you have a problem! When these biased views become acceptable, people with small mind and big mouths will assert their perceived authority. Enough of these assaults on civil liberties and discourse will change normative expectations, and people that are perceived to be different will become targets. Vote blue!
Here is a comment I just submitted to American Airlines customer relations:
I am angry and dismayed about the recent treatment of Rev. William Barber, who was removed from a Raleigh/Durham to Washington, DC flight. After viewing an interview with the gentleman who caused and escalated the dispute with Rev. Barber on a North Carolina news station, my feelings have only intensified.
What is obvious to anyone who flies often, this situation was mishandled, to put it charitably, by the flight attendant involved. As a lifetime AA Advantage Platinum status member, I have observed a lower standard in how passengers are treated, especially on American Eagle. The incident with Rev. Barber leads me to more insidious conclusions.
I hope that American will take responsibility for this injustice. One step would be to take some time to learn about Rev. Barber’s leadership, commitment, and advocacy for social justice and decency not just in North Carolina, but throughout the nation. It would be a great act of contrition if the corporate leaders at American would support his causes to promote fairness and justice, especially in his home state. A substantial contribution to the causes Rev. Barber leads would be an important first step.
My wish is that this episode becomes a lesson for all of American’s employees to understand that how they treat their customers reflects their corporate image to the public.
Would you please link the interview with the other passenger.
Was the other passenger Arne Duncan, by chance?
I found the report at the end of this post: http://crooksandliars.com/2016/04/moral-monday-leader-faces-racist-comments
Also realized in my haste that I got the direction of the flight wrong, but I’m guessing they’ll figure it out.
Thanks for the link GregB
What a horrible incident! I’ll remember to never fly American Airlines!
“As it happens, he was flying to Raleigh to address our annual convention on Saturday morning. ”
It happens — and curiously, with increasing frequency.
http://abcn.ws/1qWtHny ABC report
There are 2 sides to every story and our local network talked to the other guy. You might be interested in his take on the situation:
http://abc11.com/news/passenger-involved-in-barber-flight-removal-speaks-out/1295908/
Is the message from American Airlines flight staff that it’s acceptable to harass another passenger as long as one remains seated? The other passenger got to his destination on time. Interesting that he didn’t want his name/face revealed in the ABC interview.
No
The message is that it’s OK to harass another passenger as long as you are not black and the other passenger is.
Simple enough.
Maybe they can make a sign on the seat backs.
Growing up as a white kid in overwhelmingly black neighborhoods, it wasn’t hard to see that there was peril in—
WalkingWhileBlack aka WWB.
DrivingWhileBlack aka DWB.
Add—
FlyingWhileBlack aka FWB.
I am a great fan of abbreviations, but we could do without the above three.
Just sayin’….
😎
Go on any plane, grab the flight attendant’s wrist in anger and I guarantee you will be escorted off the plane immediately, regardless of your race or ethnicity.
“in anger”? Proof? Projecting?
More likely he needed support to turn around
If that’s the case, a guy sitting right behind him should be the one to be escorted off the plane. Not Reverend Barber.
Thank you for doing that Diane. What they did was outrageous!
I think it less likely that he was removed because he is black and more likely because he is big.
Size discrimination?
The airlines don’t respect size anyway—he had to buy two seats for crying out loud.
We also know that HB2 was denounced by American Airlines. . .so this cannot be put into that ball of wax. So there’s that, which would is good for intelligent conversation that is appropriately compartmentalized so as to have discussion void of emotional reaction.
To Involved Mom:
What is about emotional reaction?
If the situation is reversed, there is a big and celebrity white man and brag, drunken young BLACK man who sits behind BIG white man, and makes loud and obnoxious words to the celebrity BIG WHITE man sat in two seats.
Yes, I am very sure that the young BLACK with loud, obnoxious voice will definitely get out of the airplane without a complaint from WHITE and celebrity BIG MAN.
Therefore, involved mom please acknowledge the reality of racism. Back2basic