A lawsuit has been filed by a white mother, Mary MacCarthy, who claims that she and her 10-year-old mixed-race daughter were racially profiled by a Southwest Airlines worker, resulting in the police being called, according to Newsweek.
The incident allegedly took place on October 22, 2021, when MacCarthy and her daughter arrived at Denver International Airport from California. Although the police eventually released them, the lawsuit states that the experience caused "extreme emotional distress" and seeks economic damages, compensatory damages, as well as punitive and exemplary damages.
The lawsuit also highlights the added difficulty of the situation for MacCarthy and her daughter, as they were traveling to Denver for a funeral following the sudden death of MacCarthy's brother. Newsweek reports that MacCarthy's daughter began crying when approached by the police.
MacCarthy, who resides in Los Angeles, expressed her ongoing concern about being judged and reported for any interaction she has with her daughter in public, especially at airports or on planes. She described the constant vigilance as a strange and exhausting feeling. MacCarthy's daughter, now 12 years old, remains reluctant to discuss the incident.
David Lane, MacCarthy's attorney, explained that the purpose of the lawsuit is to hold Southwest Airlines accountable and prompt the airline to reevaluate its training and policies. Lane criticized Southwest Airlines for resorting to racial profiling, stating that the company used a stereotypical, simplistic approach to address the serious issue of sex trafficking.
He drew a parallel between the airline's actions and the unconstitutionality of police stop-and-frisk practices based on race. Lane emphasized that corporate America should not engage in such profiling to involve law enforcement in questioning racially diverse families solely due to their different races.
Newsweek reached out to Southwest Airlines for comment on the lawsuit, to which a spokesperson responded that they had nothing to add at this time regarding the pending litigation. The magazine noted that Southwest Airlines had previously announced an internal review of the incident in November 2021. The airline expressed disappointment upon learning about the mother's account and stated that they would contact her to address her concerns and apologize for her experience. However, MacCarthy had not yet received an apology at the time of Newsweek's report.
Southwest Airlines reportedly emphasized that its employees receive comprehensive training on human trafficking. MacCarthy, however, expressed her feelings of being attacked as a mother and as a human being in her interactions with the airline since the incident, as well as in light of the bodycam footage that has been revealed. She believes that customers should be aware of the true nature of the company they choose to do business with.
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