The Round rev: representin’ in the friendly skies

Bill Barber got tossed off an airplane.  (No, it wasn’t in mid-air.) Single-handedly, Lardbutt probably pissed off MORE people on this airplane than HB2 could ever hope to, period: 

North Carolina NAACP President William Barber told WTVD that he was removed from a flight in Washington D.C. Friday night and that there are concerns as to why he was asked to de-board the plane.

Here’s exclusive video of Barber making his case to airline employees just prior to being removed from the plane.  Oh, and here’s the video of the Round Rev’s removal from the aircraft and subsequent interrogation.  MORE: 

[…] It happened just after 10 p.m. at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, according to the WTVD report.

American Airlines Flight 5382 was scheduled to take off for Raleigh Durham International around 10:20 p.m. when a spokesperson with the airlines told the station that prior to departure, the captain called for the flight to return to the gate for a disruptive passenger.
They said the passenger was escorted off the plane at the gate.

They don’t return to the gate for just anything. You have to be a pretty major a–hole or outright dangerous to have that, um, honor bestowed upon you.  I can see the former being the case much more than the latter here. MORE: 

[…] Barber confirmed to the station Saturday morning that he was the passenger.
Barber said the staff at Reagan was very gracious, as were the ground members for American Airlines. However, Barber said there are concerns as to why he should have even been asked to de-board.
“I chose to abide by the request without challenge and to address later the issues interpretations around what precipitated it, as well as my response and my treatment,” he told WTVD. “I have turned this over to my counsel who have advised me, as is protocol, to speak with them first before any other statements are made. My prayer as always is fairness.”
The airline would not comment on whether the incident was verbal or physical.
The flight departed 45 minutes late, and arrived at RDU at 11:58 p.m.

Flying is stressful enough.  To have your flight further delayed because of THIS GUY really adds insult to injury. You know — by the time he’s done — the airline and every passenger on that plane will be smeared as *racist Republican members of the North Carolina General Assembly.*

Oh, and here’s the statement the Round Rev and his rabble at the NAACP sent out:

North Carolina NAACP
On Airline’s Decision to Remove
Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II from Plane Last Night

Durham, April 16, 2016: Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II,
President of North Carolina State Conference of NAACP Branches and the
architect of the nationally acclaimed Moral Monday Movement, is fine.
When short report was published this morning that he had been removed
from a plane at the Washington, DC Airport last night, Rev. Barber’s
friends have been rightly concerned. To ease their minds, he released
this statement:

Yes it was me. I was invited to be the keynote speaker
at a national interfaith event that launched the 2016 Ecumenical
Advocacy Days. Like Moral Mondays, the service was to encourage all
people of faith to petition directly those who have the power to
reverse the immoral policies against the poor, the marginalized and
the racially oppressed people in our society. Protestant, Catholic and
other faith leaders had worked for months for the Ecumenical Advocacy
Days in D.C. this week. My job Friday evening was to remind us of the
similar moral teachings of great religions–love your neighbor as
yourself, do justice, and walk humbly with God.

I had preached a sermon, my colleague had led the
multi-racial crowd in some spirited gospel and Movement singing and,
after some wonderful time hanging out with old and new friends, I went
to Reagan National Airport to board an American Airlines plane flying
to Raleigh-Durham around 10 p.m. As I boarded the plane, I was
overwhelmed with love and the possibilities of new cross-race
friendships and moral witnesses. I was also bone tired. Because of my
bone-fusion arthritic disability that I have struggled with for years,
I am forced to purchase two seats. The airport employees were more
than gracious to me, as I boarded the small plane and painfully moved
my body around to the most comfortable position I can find, looking
forward to a good nap on the short flight home.

A passenger in a seat near me was talking loudly as the
plane filled up. I asked the stewardess to request he bring it down a
little bit, and she did. Because of my disability, I could not turn
my head to see him, but as she left, I heard him saying distasteful
and disparaging things about me. He had problems with “those people”
and he spoke harshly about my need for “two seats,” among other
subjects. As I heard these things, I became more and more
uncomfortable, especially since he was behind me. The attitude with
which he spoke, and my experiences with others who have directed
similar harsh, sometimes threatening words, emails, and calls at me,
came to my mind. Because he was behind me when he made the comments
and because of my disability, the only way I could see him when I
tried to speak to him as one human being to another was to stand and
turn around. I asked him why he was saying such things, and I said he
did not know me, my condition, and I added I would pray for him.

This took place before the plane’s crew gave safety
instructions. I do not know who made the decision, but a plane
official apparently called the police, who came to my seat and said,
“Sir you need to leave the plane.” I left. The American Airlines team
at the desk was very gracious. Many said they were concerned and some
said they did not agree with the decision. I told each of them that I
was OK. They found room on a flight leaving on Saturday morning. I
returned to the hotel where I keynoted the event earlier in the
evening. This morning American staff graciously helped me re-board for
the flight to Raleigh-Durham.

Virtually all the police officers and American
employees were gracious to me. Some were openly troubled by the
decision to force me to spend another night away from home. To those
of you who were worried about me, I am fine, physically. Yes, I am not
at all happy about what I believe were the real reasons I was the one
asked to leave. My training and experiences with non-violent civil
disobedience, and my deep faith, however, made my decision to
peacefully comply with the order to get off the plane an easy one. I
turned the matter over to my legal counselors, one here and one in
Washington DC.

The Moral Fusion Movement must focus our attention on
weightier matters. The struggle against the hatred and fear take
priority over matters of my comfort and convenience. I merely want to
be treated fairly.

I want to emphasize, virtually all who had to implement
the decision to remove me from the plane were embarrassed and upset by
it. I thank them, and thank all my friends for the words of comfort
and love, and your prayers. Now, let’s get back to work, changing
attitudes, stereotypes, perceptions, policies and dealing with
people’s fears and hatred.

Yours in faith,

Rev. William J. Barber II

*”Architect of the nationally renowned Moral Monday movement?”  Um, yeah.*

Two seats.  I knew it.  (That other passenger was likely wondering WHY cargo was upstairs taking up two business class seats instead of being downstairs in the hold.) 

He’ll holler enough to get a little cash and a few free tickets out of the airline.  THIS GUY is the real embarrassment for the state of North Carolina.