Freedom of speech is a right that all Americans have under the U.S. Constitution, but one woman's right was denied by American Airlines.
A woman identified as "O" claims to have missed her connecting flight because the airline found the shirt that she was wearing to be inappropriate. The shirt contained the slogan, "If I wanted the government inside my womb, I would have f-- a Senator."
"O" was on her way home from a visit to Washington D.C.. Her trip included a connecting flight and she boarded the first plane without any issue.
She told RH Reality Check, "When I boarded the plane, I was one of the first groups to board (did not pass by many folks). I was wearing my shawl just loosely around my neck and upon sitting down in my seat the lady next to me, who was already seated, praised me for wearing the shirt."
Next thing she knew, a flight attendant came up to her as the plane was close to landing and told "O" that she would have to speak to the captain before leaving the plane because her shirt was offensive.
After the flight landed later than scheduled, the woman spoke with the captain who told her that she should not have been allowed on the first plane and that she would need to change her shirt before boarding her connecting flight. This conversation and the plane's late arrival took up much of her time. When she got to the gate for her connecting flight, they told her that they were aware that she had to change her shirt, but they were not told to hold the plane. She missed her connection.
She was then told she could board the next flight, but she would still have to change her shirt. Being that all of her luggage was checked, "O" didn't want to pay for clothing. Instead, she covered her shirt with the shawl that she was wearing and she was allowed to board the later flight.
American Airlines spokesman Tim Smith told MSNBC: "The only reason she was asked to cover up her T-shirt was the appearance of the 'F-word' on the T-shirt. The [pro-choice] message is irrelevant to our policy..."
The airline's website also states that "American may refuse to transport you, or may remove you from your flight at any point, for one or several reasons." That includes if you "are clothed in a manner that would cause discomfort or offense to other passengers."
"O" claimed that no one had said anything about her shirt besides the flight attendant.
This policy doesn't let anyone slide. Last year Green Day frontman Billie Joe Armstrong was kicked off of a flight for wearing pants that sagged too low.
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