Washington, DC, November 20--The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) applauds the United States Department of Transportation (DOT) for reaching a constructive settlement with United Airlines. According to the DOT, United Airlines acted in a manner inconsistent with federal laws that prohibit discrimination. The DOT order further requires United Airlines to provide annual civil rights training to its employees for three years at a cost of at least $1.5 million.
Shortly after the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, ADC filed and assisted others in filing numerous complaints with the DOT against airlines for allegedly removing passengers based on their perceived ethnicity and/or religion. Then in June 2002, ADC joined the American-Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) in filing lawsuits against American Airlines, United Airlines, and Continental Airlines alleging that the airlines engaged in the unlawful removals of Arab, Arab-American, Muslim, or South Asian passengers based on their perceived religion, ethnicity, or national origin.