Social Justice
Woman says she was removed from American Airlines flight for ‘flying while black’
A woman claims she was thrown off a flight in an experience she calls discrimination because of her race.
Imani Cezanne claims she was thrown off a flight in an experience she calls discrimination because of her race.
What happened to Imani Cezanne?
Cezanne, a supporter of the Black Lives Matter movement, took to Twitter to claim that she was removed from an American Airlines flight and banned from flying with the airline in the future for “flying black.”
“Flying while Black”
The series of tweets claim that Cezanne was kicked off the plane because a flight attendant felt “threatened” by the Black Lives Matter shirt she was wearing.
Today I was escorted off of a plane by two armed caucasian male officers. I have never believed so strongly that I could die at any moment.
— Imani Cezanne (@imanicezanne) March 26, 2016
Ejected from an aircraft. Considered a threat to safety. For doing nothing more than existing in this Black body. @AmericanAir
— Imani Cezanne (@imanicezanne) March 25, 2016
After boarding my flight I sit in an exit row. The couple across the aisle from me does not speak English. @AmericanAir
— Imani Cezanne (@imanicezanne) March 25, 2016
They are removed from their seats because “If you don’t speak english you can’t sit in an exit row.” I ask why. @AmericanAir
— Imani Cezanne (@imanicezanne) March 25, 2016
Fligh Attendant says that if she is unable to explain procedure, she must seat someone else in the exit row. Understood. @AmericanAir
— Imani Cezanne (@imanicezanne) March 25, 2016
While speaking with the woman next to me about my concernsI was *interrupted* by FA and asked “Are you going to be a problem?” @AmericanAir
— Imani Cezanne (@imanicezanne) March 25, 2016
Why would she ask me that? Is that an appropriate way to speak to a customer who is calmly having a conversation with someone? @AmericanAir
— Imani Cezanne (@imanicezanne) March 25, 2016
What about me seemed potentially problematic? I was seated, legs crossed, hands in lap. Using my “inside voice.” @AmericanAir
— Imani Cezanne (@imanicezanne) March 25, 2016
I respond with “Are you going to be a problem? Why would you ask me that?” Then storms off to get a manager. @AmericanAir
— Imani Cezanne (@imanicezanne) March 25, 2016
The manager comes to escort me off of the plane. I ask why. She says “because my flight attendant feels threatened. @AmericanAir
— Imani Cezanne (@imanicezanne) March 25, 2016
What I was wearing when I was unnecessarily ejected from my flight because the FA felt “threatened.” Coincidence? pic.twitter.com/j5BDNo3rKf
— Imani Cezanne (@imanicezanne) March 26, 2016
Nothing about my voice, tone, body language etc. communicated “threatening.” Other than, of course, this Black body. @AmericanAir
— Imani Cezanne (@imanicezanne) March 25, 2016
So now I’m stuck in Charlotte. Banned from AA. And no, I do not have $400-$500 to get back home or to my destination today. @AmericanAir
— Imani Cezanne (@imanicezanne) March 25, 2016
This is how you can literally be walking away from an officer and be shot dead. Because he “felt threatened.” @AmericanAir
— Imani Cezanne (@imanicezanne) March 25, 2016
Oh and btw my stuff was still sent to ATL. So I’m in Charlotte. My things are in ATL and I have no money to get anywhere. @AmericanAir
— Imani Cezanne (@imanicezanne) March 25, 2016
Just spoke with an @AmericanAir rep on the phone who says “there is nothing we can do for you.”
— Imani Cezanne (@imanicezanne) March 25, 2016
I have done nothing wrong. @AmericanAir
— Imani Cezanne (@imanicezanne) March 25, 2016
To those who have asked, yes I am very serious about getting a lawyer and any contacts would be greatly appreciated.
— Imani Cezanne (@imanicezanne) March 26, 2016
This support is so needed and appreciated. To all the people who offered to buy flights or drop dimes in my paypal, you are love personified
— Imani Cezanne (@imanicezanne) March 26, 2016
Currently on a bus to ATL. Thank so much to everyone for reaching out. I have yet to be contacted by @AmericanAir.
— Imani Cezanne (@imanicezanne) March 25, 2016
The American Airlines Twitter account later contacted Cezanne by direct message.
@imanicezanne Our crew is expected to always provide a friendly and professional service. Please follow and DM us your record locator.
— American Airlines (@AmericanAir) March 25, 2016
But Cezanne complained that the process had taken hours…
@AmericanAir Just got a response from @AmericanAir at 10:57 pm. They were contacted at 5:21 pm.
— Imani Cezanne (@imanicezanne) March 26, 2016
American Airlines have since stated that they have reached out to Cezanne to resolve the issue. In January, American Airlines was sued for $9 million for a different racial discrimination claim when a group of men were kicked off the plane after a flight attendant felt “uneasy.”
Twitter users criticized American Airline with the hashtag #FlyingWhileBlack.
#FlyingWhileBlack I don’t think @AmericanAir is racist, they’re employees and service is just awful.
— Say Say (@smc_1023) March 26, 2016
To think, @AmericanAir used to be my favorite airline…poor customer service and people skills get you NOWHERE. #boycott #flyingwhileblack
— lo-QUI•tâ (@QuiLovaa) March 26, 2016
Crime & Justice
Paramedic involved in Elijah McClain’s death sentenced to probation, work release and community service
Jeremy Cooper, a former paramedic who injected Elijah McClain with a fatal dose of ketamine, has been sentenced to probation and community service.
Jeremy Cooper, a former paramedic who injected Elijah McClain with a fatal dose of ketamine, has been sentenced to probation and community service.
Paramedic Jeremy Cooper sentenced
He had faced up to three years in prison but was sentenced to four years probation, 14 months of work release and 100 hours of community service.
Cooper and another paramedic, Peter Cichuniec, were found guilty of criminally negligent homicide in December in the death of McClain, 23, who was subdued by police and injected with ketamine on August 24, 2019.
Both paramedics had pleaded not guilty to the felony charges. Cichuniec was sentenced in March to five years in prison, the minimum.
Police stop turns fatal
McClain was walking home in August 2019 when the 23-year-old Black man was confronted by police officers who forcibly restrained him. When Aurora Fire Rescue paramedics Jeremy Cooper and Peter Cichuniec arrived, they injected him with ketamine.
He went into cardiac arrest in an ambulance a few minutes later and died three days after that.
The McClain family sued the city of Aurora for Elijah’s wrongful death and received a $15 million settlement.
Social Justice
Former high school athletic director arrested and charged with using AI to frame principal
A former athletic director of a high school was arrested by Baltimore County Police after allegedly using new technology to impersonate a principal.
A former athletic director of a high school was arrested by police in Maryland after allegedly using new technology to impersonate a principal.
Maryland principal incident
In January of this year, we reported that an audio was circulating on social media accusing Pikesville High School principal Eric Eisworth of making racist and antisemitic comments.
After an investigation, authorities concluded the audio was artificial intelligence.
Suspect arrested
Dazhon Darien, 31, was charged with disrupting school activities, after investigators determined Darien faked Eiswert’s voice and circulated the audio on social media in January, according to the Baltimore County State’s Attorney’s Office. Darien’s nickname, DJ, was among the names mentioned in the audio clips he allegedly faked.
Maryland principal accused audio
In the audio, Eisworth allegedly claimed Black students were unable to “test their way out of a paper bag” and made “disparaging comments” about Jewish individuals and two teachers, the charging document said
“The audio clip … had profound repercussions,” police wrote in charging documents. “It not only led to Eiswert’s temporary removal from the school but also triggered a wave of hate-filled messages on social media and numerous calls to the school. The recording also caused significant disruptions for the PHS staff and students.”
Retaliation
Police say Darien made the recording in retaliation after Eisworth initiated an investigation into improper payments he made to a school athletics coach who was also his roommate. Darien is also charged with theft and retaliating against a witness.
Darien was released on $5,000 bond and waived an attorney at an initial court appearance, according to court records.
Crime & Justice
Exonerated man on a mission to rebuild his life
C.J. Rice, a man who served more than 12 years behind bars for an attempted murder he was falsely convicted of, was officially exonerated on March 18, 2024. He is now on a mission to rebuild his life.
Charles “CJ” Rice was just 17 years old when he was convicted of a crime he did not commit.
CJ Rice Exonerated
Now 30 year old Rice is using the injustice of the last 13 years to galvanize the life he almost spent behind bars after being exonerated and declared legally innocent of the crime he was convicted of in 2013 on March 18, 2024.
According to the GoFundMe, CJ wants to “embrace this opportunity” and become a paralegal.
With the help of Dream.org, the GoFundMe aims to help CJ start a new life with everything from a place to stay to clothes to wear as he builds a new future.
The CJ Rice case
CJ Rice, formally known Charles J. Rice, was convicted in a September 2011 shooting for attempted murder and sentenced to 30-60 years behind bars in 2013.
According to the Pennsylvania Innocence Project, the South Philadelphia shooting left a woman identified as Latrice Johnson, a 6-year-old girl and two others injured.
Johnson called 911 after the shooting and described the suspects as two men running away in hoodies and black sweatpants but couldn’t fully identify them.
Through an initial investigation with victims in the hospital, Rice’s co-defendant, Tyler Linder, was identified as one of the shooters. Detectives interviewed Johnson while she was in the hospital and she identified 17-year-old Rice as one of the shooters running away although she hadn’t seen the teen in a few years. Rice had been friends with Johnson’s son when he was younger, according to the Pennsylvania Innocence Project.
In her description, Johnson said Rice was wearing a hoodie and claimed that she was able to see his full face and long braids poking out the side of the hood. However, Rice’s arrest photo depicted him with shorter cornrows flushed against his head. Despite this, a case against Rice and Linder was built.
According to the Pennsylvania Innocence Project, among the evidence was a theory that the shooting was retaliatory, which wasn’t proven. That’s because Rice was shot and injured a few days prior. It’s alleged the suspects ran from the scene, and Rice’s counsel never used his medical records as evidence to help Rice’s case.
Rice’s case received national attention after CNN anchor Jake Tapper began reporting on it. His father, Dr. Theodore Tapper, is Rice’s former doctor and treated his injuries.
Although it was alleged that the shooters ran from the 2011 crime scene, this is something that Dr. Tapper believed Rice just physically couldn’t do at the time.
Officials believed the 2011 shooting involved gang affiliations, leading the DA’s Gun Violence Task Force to begin their investigation to see whether or not Rice could be re-tried for the shooting or to dismiss the charges in full.
This suggestion of motive and the sole faulty eyewitness identification of CJ led to his conviction on four counts for attempted murder.
A free man
Rice’s defense counsel filed a habeas petition to get CJ out of prison and have his conviction overturned.
On March 18, 2024, the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas granted the Commonwealth’s motion to dismiss all charges against Rice, officially making CJ a free man.
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