At least three members of Congressare asking the inspector general to
look into allegations from three airmarshals that they were told to
target African American passengers, accordingto WFTV Channel 9 (ABC).
The story on the news station in Florida had three airmarshals tell
another station in Charlotte, North Carolina that they worked
atOrlando International Airport, where a supervisor instructed them
toparticularly watch Black passengers. According to the former air
marshals, thesupervisor did not hesitate to use the n-word while
saying that Blacks are “theones who have warrants” and that targeting
them would generate betterstatistics to present to Congress when
seeking more funding. U.S.Rep. Val Demings and two others on the U.S.
House Committee on HomelandSecurity have asked the acting inspector
general to investigate claims of, “discriminatingunlawfully against
travelers based on race.” The federal lawmakers have askedfor a
determination on whether the orders were acted on between 2005 and
2010,and if the discrimination has continued. A Transportation
Security Administration said the supervisor is notunder investigation
and said that there is no record of the allegations, goingback more
than 11 years. TSAofficials also said the individual in question was
never in a position ofauthority over the former air marshals who have
made the claims.
