In a shocking case of alleged racial profiling, a white mother has filed a federal lawsuit against Southwest Airlines, accusing the airline of "blatant racism" after she was accused of trafficking her biracial daughter. Mary MacCarthy and her then 10-year-old daughter were traveling on a Southwest flight from San Jose to Denver in October 2021 following the sudden death of MacCarthy's brother.

However, upon their arrival at Denver International Airport, they were met by police officers who had been informed by Southwest employees that MacCarthy's daughter may be a victim of trafficking. The officers began questioning MacCarthy, making it clear that they had received racially charged information about her daughter, according to the lawsuit filed on August 3 in the District Court of Colorado.

To support her claims, MacCarthy recorded her interaction with the police officers on her cell phone and provided a police bodycam video to ABC News, which she obtained through an open records request. In the bodycam video, a Southwest Airlines employee can be seen telling MacCarthy that flight attendants on the flight reported noticing "suspicious behavior."

The lawsuit alleges that Southwest Airlines' actions caused "extreme emotional distress" to both MacCarthy and her daughter. MacCarthy and her daughter were only allowed to leave the airport after MacCarthy explained why she was traveling and provided identification. This incident is not an isolated one, as the lawsuit also mentions a previous incident in January 2021 where a white male passenger traveling with his black daughter was pulled off a Southwest flight for questioning.

Southwest Airlines is accused in the lawsuit of failing to address the racist assumptions made by its employees about mixed-race families traveling together. The lawsuit seeks unspecified compensatory damages for emotional distress, mental anguish, and legal fees, as well as changes to Southwest's training and policies. MacCarthy hopes that the lawsuit will bring accountability to Southwest Airlines and make life easier for parents of color and children of color who may face similar situations.

Southwest Airlines declined to comment on the pending litigation. MacCarthy said she initially asked for an apology from the airline but never received one. She described the incident as one of the worst days of her daughter's life, who still clams up and doesn't want to talk about what happened.

MacCarthy's lawyer, David Lane, emphasized that the purpose of the lawsuit is to hold Southwest accountable and prompt the airline to reexamine its training and policies. This case highlights the ongoing issue of racial profiling and discrimination faced by mixed-race families and families of color while traveling. It serves as a reminder of the importance of addressing systemic racism within the airline industry and ensuring that all passengers are treated with respect and dignity, regardless of their race or ethnicity.