Tell United Airlines to keep passengers safe from sexual abuse

The petition to United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby and the media relations team reads:

I am part of a community of women, gender-expansive people, survivors of sexual violence, and allies, who were made aware of a deeply troubling incident in one of your flights--an incident that appears to be a pattern at your company. We just learned in a news report that a female passenger was forced to sit next to a man who was masturbating on the flight. 

The man's actions were illegal, as they are considered 'public lewdness' under New Jersey and New York laws. He should never have been allowed to walk free without any consequences. But even more devastating, your company allowed him to threaten the personal boundaries and psychological safety of all the passengers and crew on your flight without repercussion. This is completely unacceptable, and disturbingly, it's been a pattern at your company.

In addition to this incident, last year, at least two women passengers filed lawsuits against United Airlines for failing to protect them against sexual assault on your flights. In previous years, you've faced similar complaints, including from your flight attendants, that were significant enough that in December 2017, your then-CEO Oscar Munoz called for a 'zero-tolerance' policy 'for sexual harassment of any of our colleagues and customers.' It doesn't appear that your policy is being enforced, or whether your employees know about it and are able to enforce it. 

For women, who overwhelmingly are the victims of sexual violence and misconduct--which includes 'non-physical' abuse like unwanted public masturbation, which is illegal--we cannot continue to fly on United Airlines without reassurance that the company will prioritize our safety and make sure your cabins are free from sexual violence and misconduct of all kinds. We look forward to hearing back as to how you plan to address this issue.

On a recent flight from Rochester, New York, to Newark, New Jersey, a 25-year-old woman told NBC News that the man sitting next to her had been masturbating. She spent most of the flight standing up to stay away from him.

However, when it was time to land, the flight crew made her sit next to the man, citing a lack of other available seating. 

All of this is illegal, disgusting, unacceptable, and we will not stand for it, United Airlines. 

Not only are the man's actions considered a lewd act under New York and New Jersey state statutes, but he also violated personal boundaries and endangered the psychological safety and autonomy of all on board. United Airlines needs to assure its passengers that it is enforcing a clear policy to address such incidents in the future, protect its passengers, and keep its cabins free from sexual violence. 

Sign and share the petition to United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby and the company's media relations team today!