Posted on 03/01/2004 4:53:00 PM PST by Indy Pendance
DALLAS, March 1 (Reuters) - The U.S. Department of Transportation said on Monday it has reached a settlement with American Airlines over claims the world largest's carrier discriminated against passengers it thought were of Middle Eastern or South Asian descent.
The Transportation Department said in the period immediately following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks on the United States, American, a division of AMR Corp. (nyse: AMR - news - people), was accused of unlawfully removing passengers from flights or denying boarding based on race, nationality or religion.
"The settlement order finds that American acted in a manner inconsistent with federal laws that prohibit discrimination," the department said in a statement.
It also requires American, without admitting to wrongdoing, to provide civil rights training to its employees over the next three years at a cost of at least $1.5 million in order to resolve the allegations and avoid litigation.
"American and American Eagle steadfastly deny that their employees discriminated against any passengers on the basis of race, color, national origin, religion, sex or ancestry following the events of September 11, 2001," the carrier said in a statement. American Eagle is a regional jet airline affiliated with American.
In November 2003, United Airlines agreed to an almost identical settlement when it was faced with similar charges. Both American and United planes were taken over by hijackers and used in the Sept. 11 attacks.
"Concerns about aviation security in the days following the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks do not justify illegal discrimination against passengers," said U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta.
Mineta doesn't care who gets on your airliner, does he?
Fine. I won't get on ANY airliner. Haven't since September 11, 2001 and won't now as long as idiots like Mineta are risking our lives on the altar of political correctness.
Bush keeps Mineta as part of the new bi-partisan, gushy, touchy-fuzzy, nicearama that has sprung up in Washington. Hey, it worked with Ted Kennedy and look how much he has helped Bush out. The Democrats love GW, they just don't want to show it.
Neither have I, and neither will I...and I work part-time for one of them! Screw Mineta and the Bush PC Bravo Sierra. As PC and pro-gay and pro-diversity as my company is anyway, they deserve a fine just for being stupid liberals. I'm not sitting through their stupid class.
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