Texas Rep. Sheila Jackson Lee firmly believes her race made her ‘an easy target’ for the woman, a 63-year-old teacher, who accused her of taking her first-class seat on a United Airlines flight last week.
via NYDN:
Passenger Jean-Marie Simon accused the airline of giving the Democrat preferential treatment during a Dec. 18 flight from Houston to Washington D.C. because she’s a member of Congress.
Jackson Lee, in a statement shared to Twitter Tuesday, recalled the incident, explaining she got her pass and “boarded the plane in a normal process.”
“I did nothing wrong. I asked for nothing exceptional or out of the ordinary and received nothing exceptional or out of the ordinary,” she told her 50,000 Twitter followers. “I proceeded to take my seat and work on legislative issues on my way to Washington.”
The Democrat said after she was seated, she spotted a woman pacing up and down the aisle causing a “disruption.” The irate passenger, who had speaking to a black flight attendant at the time, eventually walked toward Jackson Lee and “took a picture.”
“Since this was not any fault of mine, the way the individual continued to act appeared to be, upon reflection, because I was an African American, seemingly an easy target along with the African American flight attendant who was very, very nice,” the congresswoman wrote.
“This saddens me, especially at this time of year given all of the things we have to work on to help people.”
She finished her statement by saying she was pleased the airline was working to sort the matter out, “But as an African American, I know there are too many examples like this all over the nation.
“I hope one day, we will accept our collective diversity.”
United Airlines in a statement Tuesday said Simon canceled her flight from Houston to Washington with the United Mobile app. And a spokesperson in an interview with NBC denied that Jackson Lee was given the first-class seat because she is in Congress.
Simon had attempted to board the flight — which had already been delayed — with a paper ticket, only to be told that it was no longer valid.
The passenger in an interview with the Houston Chronicle has denied canceling her flight, but noted she was given a $500 voucher and seated in the Economy Plus section.
She also denied allegations of racism, saying she had “no idea who was in my seat when I complained.”
Simon also said an airline resolution manager called to apologize, but that she wanted a hand-written apology from United.
You can read Shelia’s full statement below.
Here’s my statement surrounding incident on United Airlines flight 2 Mondays ago:
“I am disappointed in having to respond to this accusation, but I believe transparency is very important. Unfortunately, it looks like Grinch is trying to steal the spirit of the holiday.
— Sheila Jackson Lee (@JacksonLeeTX18) December 26, 2017
“Last Monday, I arrived at the airport to catch my flight to Washington to continue my fight to get Hurricane Harvey funds back to Texas and other hard hit areas, along with funding of the Children’s Health Insurance Program and of course, trying
— Sheila Jackson Lee (@JacksonLeeTX18) December 26, 2017
“to stop a tax bill that was going to cause millions of Americans to lose their health insurance.
After receiving my boarding pass, I boarded the plane in the normal process. I did nothing wrong. I asked for nothing exceptional or out of the ordinary and received nothing
— Sheila Jackson Lee (@JacksonLeeTX18) December 26, 2017
”exceptional or out of the ordinary. I proceeded to take my seat and work on legislative issues on my way to Washington.
Although I was not involved, I observed a disruption by an individual walking back and forth in the cabin. exceptional or out of the ordinary.
— Sheila Jackson Lee (@JacksonLeeTX18) December 26, 2017
I proceeded to take my seat and work on legislative issues on my way to Washington.
Although I was not involved, I observed a disruption by an individual walking back and forth in the cabin. I could overhear her speaking with a flight attendant (an African American woman).
— Sheila Jackson Lee (@JacksonLeeTX18) December 26, 2017
I saw the gate agent go to the seat of the individual who was walking back and forth before we took off.
I later came to understand that the individual had canceled her own flight. However I had nothing to do with that.
— Sheila Jackson Lee (@JacksonLeeTX18) December 26, 2017
I noted that this individual came toward me and took a picture. I heard later that she might have said “I know who she is.” Since this was not any fault of mine, the way the individual continued to act appeared to be, upon reflection, because I was an African American woman,
— Sheila Jackson Lee (@JacksonLeeTX18) December 26, 2017
seemingly an easy target along with the African American flight attendant who was very, very nice. This saddens me, especially at this time of year given all of the things we have to work on to help people. But in the spirit of this season and out of the sincerity of my heart,
— Sheila Jackson Lee (@JacksonLeeTX18) December 26, 2017
if it is perceived that I had anything to do with this, I am kind enough to simply say sorry. I understand the airline is working to address the passenger’s concerns. I am glad of that. But as an African American, I know there are too many examples like this all over the nation
— Sheila Jackson Lee (@JacksonLeeTX18) December 26, 2017
. I hope one day, we will accept our collective diversity. Happy Holidays.” ine, the way the individual continued to act appeared to be, upon reflection, because I was an African American woman, seemingly an easy target along with the African
— Sheila Jackson Lee (@JacksonLeeTX18) December 26, 2017
American flight attendant who was very, very nice. This saddens me, especially at this time of year given all of the things we have to work on to help people. But in the spirit of this season and out of the sincerity of my heart, if it is perceived that I had anything to do
— Sheila Jackson Lee (@JacksonLeeTX18) December 26, 2017
with this, I am kind enough to simply say sorry. I understand the airline is working to address the passenger’s concerns. I am glad of that.
But as an African American, I know there are too many examples like this all over the nation.
— Sheila Jackson Lee (@JacksonLeeTX18) December 26, 2017
I hope one day, we will accept our collective diversity. Happy Holidays.”
— Sheila Jackson Lee (@JacksonLeeTX18) December 26, 2017
If you need a refresher on the other woman’s side of the story, click here.
