Two Black Comedians Sue Police Over Search at Atlanta Airport
Nathan Robinson is a comedian from Atlanta who was traveling to South Africa when he got into an argument with airport authorities over a search of his carry-on bags.
Nathan Robinson is a comedian from Atlanta who was traveling to South Africa when he got into an argument with airport authorities over a search of his carry-on bags.
(Photo: Nathan Robinson)
Atlanta: Black comedians Nathan Robinson and Andre Smith are taking their battle against airport search policies to the nation’s highest court. The two men are joined by legal experts and civil rights activists as they file a class action lawsuit on Monday against the Transportation Security Administration, arguing that they have been subjected to a racially biased search process in the world’s busiest airport.
The suit, filed in US District Court in Atlanta, is the latest move by the two black artists to use the courts to push for a better understanding of the airport security process.
In an interview with FRONTLINE about the lawsuit, Robinson said the TSA is trying to keep Americans safe and that there is a “tremendous” racial double standard when it comes to airport searches.
“When I boarded my plane, I didn’t expect a search. I just put my carry-on on the floor and thought that would be it until I landed.”
When Robinson landed at Atlanta’s Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Sept. 24, he had been flying from New York for the last six weeks. He had left the country for a series of gigs.
Before landing, Robinson had a one-way ticket, but he decided he didn’t want to put that on hold and use it to return home. He then made the decision to put his carry-on on the floor and decided to take the plane to Africa. He had been scheduled to play three gigs in South Africa, but on his arrival at Atlanta he was no longer available and he found himself at the airport waiting to be searched.
The first search was quick and perfunctory for an inbound traveller with only $