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American Airlines passenger claims he was 'forced to conceal' Palestine sweater on flight to Phoenix

An American Airlines passenger alleged that he was told to turn his Palestine sweatshirt inside out or face removal from the flight

PHOENIX, ARIZONA: A passenger on an American Airlines flight from New York to Phoenix sparked controversy after alleging that he was forced to conceal his Palestine sweatshirt.

The incident, which reportedly occurred on American Airlines flight 2829, has drawn criticism from individuals and organizations advocating for Palestinian rights.

Passenger told to conceal Palestine sweater or face removal on American Airlines flight

According to The Independent, the passenger, who has not been publicly identified, took to social media to share his experience, asserting that he was instructed by flight attendants to either turn his sweatshirt inside out or face removal from the flight.

He described the sweater as simply bearing the word "Palestine" and lacking any offensive or profane content.

Despite the absence of any specific airline policy prohibiting political clothing, the flight crew reportedly expressed concerns about how other passengers might perceive the sweater. However, the passenger questioned this rationale, stating, "What about my feelings?"

Feeling compelled to comply due to uncertainty regarding his rights, the passenger reluctantly turned the sweater inside out.

ADC condemns American Airlines for forcing the passenger to hide a Palestine sweater

The American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) has since condemned the airline's actions, characterizing them as discriminatory and contributing to a broader pattern of prejudice against Palestinians.

"This action taken by American Airlines is not only discriminatory but also contributes to the broader context of prejudice against Palestinians and their right to self-identification," read a statement published on its website.

It added, "The choice presented to the passenger – conceal their identity or face potential removal– reflects a distressing disregard for the fundamental rights of individuals to express their cultural and national identities."

"This incident is emblematic of a larger pattern of discrimination that Palestinians and their supporters often face, highlighting a concerning trend of silencing and marginalizing their voices," concluded the note. 

Congresswoman Rashida Tlaib questions American Airlines' treatment of passenger

Michigan Rep Rashida Tlaib also weighed in on the matter, expressing solidarity with the passenger and questioning whether American Airlines harbors anti-Palestinian bias.

She took to X (formerly Twitter) and wrote, "A young man who I have known most of his life informed me that on his @americanair flight AA2829 home from New York, he was instructed by a flight attendant to remove his sweater that said Palestine on it." 

Tlaib added, "Does American Airlines have a bias towards Palestinians? Is there a policy that enables this kind of targeting and mistreatment? He was devastated and felt like the erasure of Palestinians in our country has no limits. I emailed @americanair and I’m waiting for a response."

American Airlines responds to passenger's complaint

In response to the growing outcry, American Airlines has stated that they are investigating the matter and reaching out to the passenger to gather more details. 

The statement read, "We strive to ensure all customers have a positive experience throughout their journey on American. We are looking into the matter and a member of our team is reaching out to learn more about their experience and address their concerns."