Muslims have been clear about knowing, noticing, and naming that they are being targeted.

share your #FlyingWhileMuslim story

I was living in Grand Rapids, MI, during 9/11/2001. I hated living there and traveled away a couple of times a month. I was “randomly” selected for screening nearly every time I flew for a period of about 3 1/2 years. It finally slowed down once I moved to New York in 2005 and was flying less, but I would still get “randomly” selected on a regular basis. It FINALLY got better when I got married and my last name changed to include a hyphenated Hispanic last name. I have been “randomly” selected just a few times in the past few years, so it doesn’t feel targeted, but it has only happened when I was flying alone and not with my family.

If you get agitated at all while they are screening you, it doesn’t make them reflect on their practices at all, but rather upholds their preconceived narrative about your supposed predisposition to anger and violence. My name is Indian and more likely associated with Gujarati/Hindu ancestry and I STILL was targeted. I can’t imagine what my Muslim brothers and sister have gone through.

Have you ever received a response or resolution from either an airline, airport or government official regarding the discrimination you experienced? If so, what was the response or the result?

Nope.

Has the discrimination you've faced made it harder for you to travel? If so, in what ways and at what cost?

I have only missed one flight because I was being screened, which I’m sure TSA sees as nominal collateral damage for “keeping Americans safe.” But targeted screening is nothing more than a control tactic that instills a sense of fear and anxiety in those who are being othered and targeted.

In reality, the techniques they use are not grounded in science or any data showing effectiveness. Racial and religious profile come at the cost of psychological safety.

What was your reaction to the No-Fly List leak story? how did it make you feel?

It’s both appalling and unsurprising. Only people with their heads in the sand regarding justice and equity issues would be truly surprised by this state targeting and psychological violence. Muslims have been clear about knowing, noticing, and naming that they are being targeted.

We never need to wait for the data to come out — whether leaked or otherwise provided — if we are listening to marginalized communities.