A White mother from Los Angeles says she was questioned about human trafficking while she was traveling with her biracial daughter.
Mary MacCarthy says she was questioned by two cops and a Southwest Airways worker after flying from San Jose to Denver. She believes she wouldn’t have been questioned if her 10-year-old daughter, Moira, was White.
MacCarthy mentioned she booked the tickets final minute and requested flight attendants if she may get a seat subsequent to her daughter. The flight attendants declined to assist however she was in a position to change seats with passengers who have been understanding.
Once they landed, the worker and two officers have been ready to talk with MacCarthy, who recorded the interplay. A Southwest worker may be heard saying flight attendants have been involved about her habits when she boarded the flight. Her daughter may be heard crying within the background however shouldn’t be seen on digicam.
“I was absolutely certain that we had been racially profiled but I have other things to worry about. I didn’t give it too much thought beyond that until 10 days later,” she advised CBS LA.
She mentioned that is when she acquired a name from the Denver Police Division following up on a declare that she’s a human trafficker. CBS LA obtained a police report that claimed MacCarthy acted nervously on the flight, didn’t converse to her daughter and prevented her from talking with the flight crew. MacCarthy denied the claims.
“They saw a white mother, they saw a child with a different skin tone and said that’s suspicious, that could be a crime and we’re reporting that. That’s not OK. This is the United States of America in 2021,” she mentioned.
Denver police didn’t instantly reply to CBS Information’ request for remark.
In a press release, a Southwest spokesperson mentioned the airline focuses on creating an”inclusive” atmosphere for purchasers and trains workers on human trafficking, and so they have been wanting into MacCarthy’s report.
“We were disheartened to learn of this mother’s account when traveling with her daughter,” the spokesperson mentioned Friday. “We are conducting a review of the situation internally, and we will be reaching out to the Customer to address her concerns and offer our apologies for her experience traveling with us.”
