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Happy Easter!! Christians around the world today are celebrating the risen Christ.

It was wonderful to be on the Keep Hope Alive Radio Show with host Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr. and producer Santita Jackson.

We discussed what the crucifixion and the resurrection of Jesus Christ means for us today.

We also discussed the recent incident on United Airlines when they forcefully tried to get a passenger off its flight. The passenger was Dr. David Dao who needed to get home to see his patients Monday morning. United Airlines needed 4 volunteers to get off the flight so that they can get their own flight attendants to Louisville. When people would not leave the flight, they ‘randomly’ selected 4 people. Dr. Dao and his wife were 2 of the 4 ‘randomly’ selected people.

The brutality and the force used on Dr. Dao to get him off the flight has caused a broken nose, 2 broken teeth and a concussion. The horrific video shows the brutality that people of color may face.

During Easter, we reflect on how Jesus cared for the poor, the marginalized and the women. During this Easter season, we need to do likewise. We must fight for the rights of minoritized people and we need to speak out for those who have no voices.

 

From Rev. Jesse Jackson Facebook Post:

God bless you on this blessed Easter—Resurrection Sunday!

Let’s talk about the “Not-So-Friendly Skies” of #UnitedAirlines…

Did you see the video of Dr. David Dao being dragged off of United Airlines Flight #3411 by Airline security, down the aisle, on his back like troublesome luggage?

This case raises the issues of Corporate Power vs. People Power and Peoples’ Rights—the proliferation of the American Police State—

And for observant Christians, especially in this Easter season, this story has particular resonance……David vs. Goliath…Jesus vs. Rome and the Pharisees…

What happened?

Last Sunday, while on the last leg of a nearly 24-hour journey, passengers on the UA Chicago-St. Louis flight were asked to “voluntarily” surrender their seats on what they were told was an “overbooked” flight to make space for United employees who needed to get to St. Louis…
Dr. David Dao was told he had been selected by computer to surrender his seat and was told that he had to exit the plane…
Dr. Dao refused citing his already nearly daylong journey and his need to get home to see his patients at 8a the next morning…
Security threatened to drag him off of the plane to which Dr. Dao responded: “Well then, you can drag me…I’m not going…I’d rather go to jail”…
Security then violently pulled him out of his seat, knocking his head on the armrest, giving him a severe concussion and breaking his nose and teeth—he will need reconstructive surgery…

And United Airlines felt the pain: after the video went viral, their stock lost $1.4 Billion in value…

Dr. Dao gave the incident its most poignant context. A survivor of the Vietnam War according to his lawyer he said,
“…he left Vietnam in 1975 after Saigon fell and he was on a boat and he said he was terrified…

“…He said that being dragged down the aisle (of the airplane) was more horrifying and harrowing than what he experienced when leaving Saigon.”

What do you make of this?

Today’s panel:

  • ATTY. TERRY O’NEILL/President, NOW;
  • ATTY. MARC FANCHER/Michigan ACLU Racial Justice Project and NATIONAL BLACK CONFERENCE OF LAWYERS;
  • KEVIN GRAY/Former President, South Carolina ACLU and Author, KILLING TRAYVONS: An Anthology of American Violence;
  • Political Strategist and Author REV. FRANK WATKINS/;
  • MARK THOMPSON: MAKE IT PLAIN RADIO SHOW on Sirius Radio;
  • REV. DR. GRACE JI-SUN KIM;
  • PENNSYLVANIA STATE SENATOR VINCENT HUGHES;
  • TREVOR GERVAIS: COMMON CAUSE;
  • BETTY MAGNESS: INDEPENDENT VOTERS of ILLINOIS and Rainbow/PUSH.

 

 

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