This is from a blog called http://raedinthemiddle.blogspot.com/ , and was also confirmed at http://www.democracynow.org .
The gentleman was wearing a shirt that says "We will not be silent" in Arabic & English.
As he went through security, he had to go through a more thourough search, but was allowed through. Then while waiting for boarding, he was
approached by two security people and asked to talk. This is an excerpt from his blog describing what happened.
I'm torn by this. Do I think the guy was entirely 'innocent' in wearing a shirt w/Arabic script to the airport? No. But he passed security, answered questions peacefully and should have been allowed to board IMO. My BIL is a dark skinned Indian with longish hair and a very shaggy beard (to cover acne scars). On several occasions both dh & I have commented that he's "trying to look like a terrorist" to start something at aiports. Do I think people should be instigators -- especially at something as sensitive as airports? No. But the security people are just taking the bait and feeding into the hate. [/quote]
The gentleman was wearing a shirt that says "We will not be silent" in Arabic & English.
As he went through security, he had to go through a more thourough search, but was allowed through. Then while waiting for boarding, he was
approached by two security people and asked to talk. This is an excerpt from his blog describing what happened.
- One of the two men who approached me first, Inspector Harris, asked for my id card and boarding pass. I gave him my boarding pass and driver'slicense. He said "people are feeling offended because of your t-shirt". I looked at my t-shirt: I was wearing my shirt which states in both
Arabic and English "we will not be silent". You can take a look at it in
this picture taken during our Jordan meetings with Iraqi MPs. I said "I
am very sorry if I offended anyone, I didnt know that this t-shirt will
be offensive". He asked me if I had any other T-shirts to put on, and I
told him that I had checked in all of my bags and I asked him "why do
you want me to take off my t-shirt? Isn't it my constitutional right to
express myself in this way?" The second man in a greenish suit
interfered and said "people here in the US don't understand these things
about constitutional rights". So I answered him "I live in the US, and I
understand it is my right to wear this t-shirt". Then I once again asked the three of them : "How come you are asking me to change my t-shirt? Isn't this my constitutional right to wear it? I am ready to change it if you tell me why I should. Do you have an order against Arabic t-shirts? Is there such a law against Arabic script?" so inspector Harris answered "you can't wear a t-shirt with Arabic script and come to an airport. It is like wearing a t-shirt that reads "I am a robber" and going to a bank". ..... Inspector Harris said: "We cant make sure that your t-shirt means we will not be silent, we don't have a translator. Maybe it means something else". I said: "But as you can see, the statement is in both Arabic and English". He said "maybe it is not the same message". So based on the fact that Jet Blue doesn't have a translator, anything in Arabic is suspicious because maybe it'll mean something bad! Meanwhile, a third man walked in our direction. He stood with us without introducing himself, and he looked at inspector Harris's notes and asks him: "is that his information?", inspector Harris answered "yes". The third man, Mr. Harmon, asks inspector Harris : "can I copy this information?", and inspector Harris says "yes, sure". inspector Harris said: "You don't have to take of your t-shirt, just put it on inside-out". I refused to put on my shirt inside-out. So the woman
interfered and said "let's reach a compromise. I will buy you a new
t-shirt and you can put it on on top of this one". I said "I want to
keep this t-shirt on". Both inspector Harris and Mr. Harmon said "No, we
can't let you get on that airplane with your t-shirt". I said "I am
ready to put on another t-shirt if you tell me what is the law that
requires such a thing. I want to talk to your supervisor". Inspector
Harris said "You don't have to talk to anyone. Many people called and
complained about your t-shirt. Jetblue customers were calling before you
reached the checkpoint, and costumers called when you were waiting here
in the boarding area".it ...... I asked the four people again to let me talk to any supervisor, and they refused.
I'm torn by this. Do I think the guy was entirely 'innocent' in wearing a shirt w/Arabic script to the airport? No. But he passed security, answered questions peacefully and should have been allowed to board IMO. My BIL is a dark skinned Indian with longish hair and a very shaggy beard (to cover acne scars). On several occasions both dh & I have commented that he's "trying to look like a terrorist" to start something at aiports. Do I think people should be instigators -- especially at something as sensitive as airports? No. But the security people are just taking the bait and feeding into the hate. [/quote]
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