Tom GantertFort Worth, TX – American Airlines announced that it will allow their flight attendants to wear “Black Lives Matter” pins on their uniforms while they are working.
Fox News reported that the airline is also working on its own pin that will show support of a diverse and inclusive work environment.
“Clearly we live in a time where it is so important to have a dialogue about this important issue of racism in our society and try to find common ground,” American Airlines announced, according to Fox News.
“American is truly committed to having an inclusive culture that is welcoming to all and a reflection of our country and world,” the statement said.
“This is why American is so committed to creating a more tolerant and diverse team,” American Airlines’ statement continued, “Through our partnership with American’s office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, we are continuing to work through an overall plan for addressing these issues in our workplace.”
The announcement didn’t sit well with some American Airlines’ employees who have relatives who are police officers and don’t agree with Black Lives Matter’s anti-police stance.
“I take offense to this,” one veteran flight attendant said in an email to airline management obtained by the New York Post. “Serious offense. My husband is a LEO (Law Enforcement Officer), as was my deceased father and as far as I’m concerned ALL LIVES MATTER. I am completely disgusted at the fact that we can’t show support for our GOD, our COUNTRY, our LEOs but when it comes to BLM organization (which is controversial in itself), American Airlines says that’s obviously different. And we can. How is that right? Well, I don’t feel included.”
The New York Post reported that another flight attendant said staffers who refuse to wear the pin will now “be ostracized and labeled as racist.” That flight attendant described Black Lives Matter as “a terrorist organization that promotes violence to further their agenda.”
“If this pin is sanctioned, I will wear my NYPD pin supporting the police department,” the male flight attendant said, according to the New York Post.
Why is @AmericanAir allowing BLM inc. pins to be worn on their staff uniforms?
BLM inc. is a Marxist organization complicit in the burning and terrorizing of America, yet their propaganda is allowed
I wonder if they will allow Blue Lives Matter pins?
🤔
— Charlie Kirk (@charliekirk11) September 4, 2020
American Airlines has announced that they will allow attendants to wear ‘BLM’ pins on their uniform,
But I’m sure if an employee wore a ‘Blue Lives Matter’ pin, there would be a problem.
— Ryan Fournier (@RyanAFournier) September 7, 2020
A top administrator at American Airlines defended the decision and said there were widespread complaints from black workers with the airline about “implicit bias and direct racism from customers and other team members,” according to the New York Post.
“American is truly committed to having an inclusive culture that is welcoming to all and a reflection of our country and world,” Jill Surdek, the airline’s senior vice president for flight services, said in an email response to the disgruntled employees, according to the New York Post.
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