NC NAACP president files discrimination lawsuit against American Airlines

Rev. William Barber was returning to Raleigh from Washington, D.C., when, he says, he was removed from an American Airlines flight. He is now filing a discrimination lawsuit.

Posted 3:30 a.m. Dec 15, 2016 — Updated 9:07 p.m. Dec 15, 2016

MORRISVILLE, N.C. — State NAACP President William Barber has filed a discrimination lawsuit against American Airlines. He claims he was removed from a flight in April because he is black.

Rev. William Barber was returning to Raleigh from Washington, D.C., when, he said, he was removed from the flight. Barber was scheduled to return after spending Friday in Washington, D.C. as a keynote speaker at a national interfaith event that launched the 2016 Ecumenical Advocacy Days, according to a statement released in April.

WRAL spoke with a passenger in April who was sitting 4 rows back who said Barber seemed upset, but was not angry or threatening. A short time later, an officer escorted Reverend Barber from the flight.

According to the lawsuit filed in Federal Court Wednesday, Barber alleges he was harassed by fellow passengers and a flight attendant. The lawsuit also claims Barber's cane was taken away, forcing him to walk to the gate in pain.

Barber is suing the airline for unspecified damages as well as demanding changes at the airline. The airline said in a statement it "does not tolerate discrimination of any kind."

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