Introducing a quick and easy way to report complaints of air travel
discrimination in real time, right after the incident occurs.
1
Download FlyRights on your iPhone or Android phone.
2
File your complaint directly with the TSA & DHS.
3
Create change - share the app with family and friends..
WASHINGTON DC (April 30, 2012) - This morning the
Sikh Coalition and other prominent national civil rights leaders will
release a game-changing mobile application that enables users to report
instances of airport profiling in real time during a 10:00 a.m. EST
launch event at the offices of the Leadership Conference on Civil and
Human Rights, 1629 K Street, NW, 10th Floor, Washington, DC.
The event will also be live streamed at: http://www.ustream.tv/channel/sikhcoalition
For years, Sikh travelers have complained of discriminatory screening
and pat downs at airport checkpoints across the United States. At some
airports, the Sikh Coalition has found that Sikh travelers are subjected
to secondary screening 100% of the time.
The Sikh Coalition created the application --- called “FlyRights”
---- to bridge the gap between Sikh, Muslim, South Asian, Latino, and
other community concerns about airport profiling and official remedial
action. Complaints filed through the innovative app will be reviewed as
official complaints by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA)
and Department of Homeland Security (DHS).
“The TSA asserts it doesn’t profile. This application will allow us to better assess whether that’s true,” said Amardeep Singh,
Director of Programs at the Sikh Coalition. “All travelers now have an
easy way of speaking to their government on the issue of airport
profiling.”
According to the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties at DHS, only 11 official complaints of improper TSA screening were filed during the first two quarters of 2011. The Sikh Coalition
believes the app will exponentially increase the number of complaints
filed, providing transparency on the extent of profiling at US airports.
The news that the application was going be released today led to
immediate support from allies outside of the impacted communities and on
Capitol Hill. Senator Dick Durbin praised the app,
saying: “The vast majority of law enforcement officers perform their
jobs honorably and courageously. Unfortunately, the inappropriate
actions of the few who engage in racial profiling create mistrust and
suspicion that hurts all law enforcement officers. This app is an
important new tool that allows passengers to fight profiling. I commend
the Sikh Coalition and their partners in the civil rights community for
this innovative approach to protecting the civil rights of innocent
Americans." Representative Judy Chu added: “Up until
now, victims of racial profiling at our nation’s airports had no easy
way to call attention to this unfortunate trend. The Sikh Coalition’s
new app changes that. Travelers now have the power to fight racial
profiling right at their fingertips.”
Wade Henderson, President and CEO of
the Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights said: “Racial
profiling is ineffective and wasteful law enforcement that regularly and
unfairly deprives people of their freedom. This app will protect the
innocent individuals who are most targeted and make air travel safer for
all.”
FlyRights is available for
both Iphones and Android phones. Both applications were created in
consultation with advocacy organizations in the Black, Latino, South
Asian, and civil liberties communities.
“For too long the TSA has kept a long leash on its screeners, telling
them not to profile, but taking no effective measures to stop it,” Amardeep Singh continued. “Until that happens, we call on the public to hold the TSA
accountable by downloading the Fly-Rights app and filing reports when
appropriate.”
For more information, please visit: www.fly-rights.org ####
