File picture
New York:
A US-based Sikh rights group has launched a unique mobile application that would help users report in real-time instances of racial profiling at airports across the country, bringing such complaints to the immediate attention of federal agencies.
The 'FlyRights' app launched by the Sikh Coalition would help communities like the Sikhs, Muslims, South Asians and Latinos to register complaints of "air travel discrimination" right after the incident occurs.
The Sikh Coalition said travellers from certain communities have complained of discriminatory screening and pat-downs at airport checkpoints across the US. At some airports, Sikh travellers are subjected to secondary screening almost all the time.
"The app FlyRights will bridge the gap between concerns about airport profiling and official remedial action. Complaints filed through the innovative app will be reviewed as official complaints by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS)," the coalition said.
Director of Programmes at the Sikh Coalition Amardeep Singh said the TSA asserts it does not conduct racial profiling. "This application will allow us to better assess whether that's true," Mr Singh said.
"All travellers now have an easy way of speaking to their government on the issue of airport profiling," he said.
According to the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties at DHS, only 11 official complaints of improper TSA screening were filed during the first half of 2011.
The Sikh Coalition said the app would "exponentially" increase the number of complaints filed, providing transparency on the extent of profiling at US airports.
Senator Dick Durbin commended the Sikh Coalition for coming up with the app, which he said would help protect the civil rights of innocent Americans.
"The vast majority of law enforcement officers perform their jobs honourably and courageously. Unfortunately, the inappropriate actions of the few who engage in racial profiling create mistrust and suspicion that hurts all law enforcement officers. This app is an important new tool that allows passengers to fight profiling," Mr Durbin said.
Commenting on the new app, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights President and CEO Wade Henderson said, "Racial profiling is ineffective and wasteful law enforcement that regularly and unfairly deprives people of their freedom. This app will protect the innocent individuals who are most targeted and make air travel safer for all."
FlyRights, to be launched on Monday, would be available for iPhones and Android phones.
Mr Singh said that for too long the TSA has kept a "long leash" on its screeners, telling them not to profile, but taking no effective measures to prevent it.
"Until that happens, we call on the public to hold the TSA accountable by downloading the Fly-Rights app and filing reports when appropriate."
The 'FlyRights' app launched by the Sikh Coalition would help communities like the Sikhs, Muslims, South Asians and Latinos to register complaints of "air travel discrimination" right after the incident occurs.
The Sikh Coalition said travellers from certain communities have complained of discriminatory screening and pat-downs at airport checkpoints across the US. At some airports, Sikh travellers are subjected to secondary screening almost all the time.
"The app FlyRights will bridge the gap between concerns about airport profiling and official remedial action. Complaints filed through the innovative app will be reviewed as official complaints by the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) and Department of Homeland Security (DHS)," the coalition said.
Director of Programmes at the Sikh Coalition Amardeep Singh said the TSA asserts it does not conduct racial profiling. "This application will allow us to better assess whether that's true," Mr Singh said.
"All travellers now have an easy way of speaking to their government on the issue of airport profiling," he said.
According to the Office of Civil Rights and Civil Liberties at DHS, only 11 official complaints of improper TSA screening were filed during the first half of 2011.
The Sikh Coalition said the app would "exponentially" increase the number of complaints filed, providing transparency on the extent of profiling at US airports.
Senator Dick Durbin commended the Sikh Coalition for coming up with the app, which he said would help protect the civil rights of innocent Americans.
"The vast majority of law enforcement officers perform their jobs honourably and courageously. Unfortunately, the inappropriate actions of the few who engage in racial profiling create mistrust and suspicion that hurts all law enforcement officers. This app is an important new tool that allows passengers to fight profiling," Mr Durbin said.
Commenting on the new app, Leadership Conference on Civil and Human Rights President and CEO Wade Henderson said, "Racial profiling is ineffective and wasteful law enforcement that regularly and unfairly deprives people of their freedom. This app will protect the innocent individuals who are most targeted and make air travel safer for all."
FlyRights, to be launched on Monday, would be available for iPhones and Android phones.
Mr Singh said that for too long the TSA has kept a "long leash" on its screeners, telling them not to profile, but taking no effective measures to prevent it.
"Until that happens, we call on the public to hold the TSA accountable by downloading the Fly-Rights app and filing reports when appropriate."
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