Here's How the NAACP Is Fighting American Airlines After Claims of Discrimination

"The NAACP for several months now has been monitoring a pattern of disturbing incidents reported by African-American passengers, specific to American Airlines," the statement read. "In light of these confrontations, we have today taken the action of issuing national advisory alerting travelers—especially African Americans—to exercise caution, in that booking and boarding flights on American Airlines could subject them disrespectful, discriminatory or unsafe conditions."

The press release highlights four recent incidents that, according to the NAACP, "suggest a corporate culture of racial insensitivity and possible racial bias."

One of the incidents involved Tamika Mallory, an activist who co-chaired the Women's March on Washington. Mallory was kicked off of a Miami-to-New York flight after complaining about a seat assignment change that she did not authorize. She used her Twitter account to detail the incident and held a press conference about the ordeal. Mallory has spoken to American Airline officials, but has yet to meet with senior management, as requested.

Though American Airlines issued a statement in response to Mallory, explaining that "Our team does not tolerate discrimination of any kind," the NAACP is using Mallory's situation and the three other highlighted occurrences to call American Airlines to task.

"All travelers must be guaranteed the right to travel without fear of threat, violence or harm. The growing list of incidents suggesting racial bias reflects an unacceptable corporate culture and involves behavior that cannot be dismissed as normal or random. We expect an audience with the leadership of American Airlines to air these grievances and to spur corrective action," said Derrick Johnson, President and CEO of the NAACP in the press release. The organization is also collecting additional data from travelers who want to share any incidents about American Airlines or other

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The day after the NAACP press release was published, American Airlines Chairman and CEO Doug Parker issued a letter to the airline's 120,000 employees.

After noting the quality and volume of work American Airlines does each day, Parker expressed his willingness to work with the NAACP on the matter.

"We were disappointed to learn of a travel advisory issued by the NAACP regarding American Airlines. The mission statement of the NAACP states that it 'seeks to remove all barriers of racial discrimination.' That's a mission that the people of American Airlines endorse and facilitate every day – we do not and will not tolerate discrimination of any kind. We have reached out to the NAACP and are eager to meet with them to listen to their issues and concerns," wrote Parker.

As of publication, the meeting between the NAACP and American Airlines has not yet occurred. In the immediate aftermath, American Airlines stock and bookings seems to be unaffected. Though options are fairly limited if a person wants to to avoid one particular airline and still fly where they need to go, the NAACP press release states that the travel advisory will remain in effect until further notice.

The NAACP is asking people who have experienced troubling incidents with American Airlines or other air travel providers to contact them via an online form.