An architect of Iraqi descent has said he was forced to remove a T-shirt that bore the words “We will not be silent” before boarding a flight at New York.
Raed Jarrar said security officials warned him his clothing was offensive after he checked in for a JetBlue flight to California on 12 August.
Mr Jarrar said he was shocked such an action could be taken in the US.
Mr Jarrar’s black cotton T-shirt bore the slogan in both Arabic and English.
Mr Jarrar said he was told a number of passengers had complained about his T-shirt – apparently concerned at what the Arabic phrase meant – and [TSA reps] asked him to remove it.
“We Will Not Be Silent” is a slogan adopted by opponents of the war in Iraq and other conflicts in the Middle East.
It derives from the White Rose dissident group which opposed Nazi rule in Germany.
Yet another incident that fits in concisely with the history of people fighting for free speech — and how it is suppressed by those who fear civil liberties, those who willingly collaborate with fearmongers.
Where did he get that shirt? need one of those and will make sure my soccer team wears one everytime we board a plane…
Again, the airlines are trying to secure the passenger instead of the plane.
Inspect clothing, IDs and old people, but don’t inspect their checked luggage. A suicide bomber would never get on a plane with a bomb on his checked luggage…. right?
Fascism? You morons don’t know the meaning of the word.
You can get a sweatshop-free T-shirt in Arabic here:
https://marketspace.goodstorm.com/stores/http_marketspace_goodstorm_com_stores_nijma
It’s a very sad state of affairs when the public over reacts and is more than willing put the constitution aside out of fear. I have seen wanna be neo Nazis wearing there colors on air craft in the United States what happened the citizen is beyond excusable. I don’t serve this nation just to have the elected officials sign a memo or two to circumvent American law. Men and women of my cohort grew up under the constant threat of extermination by the soviets but we didn’t lose or give up our rights in the name of national security. But 5 years ago this nation gave away our freedom and thought “they wont trample our right” Wrong; welcome to Amerikkka!
we will not be silent about the war of Iraq and Afghanistan. It should stop now. otherwise the results of this war really dangerous in the area and this war will convert into world war.