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North Carolina NAACP leader sues over being removed from flight

Associated Press

ALEXANDRIA, Va. – The leader of North Carolina’s NAACP is suing American Airlines, saying he was removed from a flight because he is black.

News outlets report that The Rev. William Barber filed a federal lawsuit Wednesday in Alexandria, Va., demanding unspecified monetary damages and changes at the airline.

Barber says he was removed from a flight from Reagan National Airport to Raleigh-Durham International Airport in April. He says a nearby passenger said loudly that he had problems with “those people” and criticized Barber’s need for two seats. Before the crew gave safety instructions, Barber says he stood up and turned around to respond.

Barber, a pastor in Goldsboro, N.C., brought the crowd to its feet when he spoke last summer at the Democratic National Convention.

American Airlines spokesman Matt Miller declined to discuss the case since in involves litigation, but he says the airline doesn’t tolerate discrimination.