A Black man has filed a lawsuit against American Airlines after he was accused of sex trafficking.
Anthony Williams, a Black former police officer, and his wife, Katsiaryna Shasholka, who is white, were set to go on their honeymoon in 2022. They were on a flight from Phoenix to Miami when another passenger believed that Williams was trafficking his wife and alerted the flight crew.
It’s been reported that the couple’s lawsuit states they are suing the airline because their employees “falsely reported to law enforcement that Plaintiff Anthony was human trafficking his own wife without asking the couple any questions.”
Once the couple landed in Miami, they were escorted from the plane and questioned by local police. The lawsuit also states that the couple left feeling “confused and embarrassed.” They are now suing for $75,000 in damages.
Ben Taylor, a civil rights attorney not involved in the case, understands why the couple was uncomfortable. “It’s very stressful when you’re trying to go to your honeymoon and enjoy a good time and the next thing you know you’re being pulled over by police and flight attendants for something- you didn’t do anything wrong,” he said.
The couple’s case is being handled by civil rights lawyer Jasmine Rand. She also represented the families of George Floyd, Trayvon Martin, and Michael Brown. In a statement obtained by Rand, Mr. Williams said, “I am a former law enforcement officer. I worked hard to fight crime, and to be accused of committing a heinous crime is unfathomable. I was accused of human trafficking my wife because of my race. I fought hard to uphold the law in this country and I will fight hard now to uphold the laws that prohibit racial discrimination.”