A number of videos have been shared on social media claiming airline passengers are being denied boarding because they’ve been added to the government’s “No Fly List” after participating in protests and riots at the U.S. Capitol last week. That hasn’t been true – although it is about to come true, according to Delta Air Lines.
Union boss Sara Nelson first called for those who participated in disruption of the electoral count last week to be banned from flying on U.S. commercial airlines. That was followed by the Chairman of the House Homeland Security Committee Bennie Thompson (D-MS) demanding this as well.
That hasn’t happened to far. However during Delta’s earnings call the airline shared that they expect people will be added to federal no fly list from Capitol riots,
We certainly know that the TSA is looking very carefully at those that were in the capitol building, the rioters, and we are working closely with them and I do anticipate that that if the TSA is able to identify individuals you’ll have people added to the no fly list no question about it.
The ‘No Fly List’ is the government’s pre-crime profiling that keeps people off of U.S. airlines and airlines flying to the U.S. It’s a secret list that people haven’t been entitled to know how they got on or to confront the evidence relied upon to put them on it. Legally there is very little recourse, and when challenged the government claims ‘state secrets.’
People get on the list by mistake (FBI agent checking the wrong box on the form or having a name similar to someone else) and even maliciously (such as retaliation for refusing to cooperate in an investigation). Denying the freedom of travel, without trial, is precisely the mob rule outside of the rule of law that we’re supposed to be pushing back on after last week’s events.
Individual airlines are free to choose to ban passengers. Delta, which has banned over 800 passengers for refusing to wear masks, increased the total by “a number” but “not a huge number” since last week’s events. Having the government ban travel on all airlines without judicial review is frightening in a democracy.
And if it’s justified now in being used against people not yet convicted of crimes then it will be used against unpopular people later. Remember that expansions of power will be used later by the people you hate when they have power. Any new power should be one you’re comfortable with the next President Trump having and using.
In advance of next week’s Presidential Inauguration, Delta has banned firearms in checked luggage and American Airlines has again banned alcohol on DC flights.
@John E…….You’re a comedian, right? Or do you believe every conspiracy theory you hear?
Try this thought. If these terrorists were Muslim and did the same thing, would you be saying that the no-fly list was harsh punishment?
They would be sent to Guantanamo, just like these terrorists should be.
To all those on here who state things to the effect of “Well, BLM/Antifa did not attack our government”—you are factually incorrect. Violent protestors have tried to breach the White House grounds on several occasions. Though not successful (not for lack of effort), they surely “attacked government” and government officials, police and secret service. Also, they burned the historic church across from the White House (twice). Police in several states have been murdered as part of this year’s “unrest.” Two officers were shot just near our house while sitting In their patrol car. As a family that has witnessed this violence first hand I can tell you that these riots were VIOLENT and rampant…..while what we saw on TV at the Capitol was comedic by comparison. BOTH of these riots/protests groups are wrong, BOTH need to stop. But playing “innocent” while hammering the other side is only making things worse and leading to more polarization and the feeling “I’m not being heard.” I don’t even care about politics, but this has to stop. To all posters: please stop acting like one side is innocent—all these rioters are wrong.
Gary, were you at the capitol? I’m starting to think you could have been. At least in spirit.
It’s clear when you use language like riot or mob without once saying these are domestic terrorists, insurrectionists and traitors bent on overturning a free and fair election. Your boy dumper lost. and just like the loser he is, he wants people, never himself, to use whatever means possible, illegal as well as legal.
your article as well as some comments are always great about saying, “What about this or what about that,” but you don’t deal with the real issue: this was part of the attempt to overthrow the government.
I support adding these folk to the no-fly list.