American Airlines faces backlash after allowing cabin crew to wear Black Lives Matter pins on duty

American Airlines faces backlash among workers after allowing cabin crew to wear Black Lives Matter pins on their uniforms while on duty

• The nation’s largest commercial jet carrier announced the new policy on Sunday
• Some staff have since complained and are ‘completely disgusted’ by the move
• Passengers have also taken to social media in their droves to call for a boycott 

American Airlines is facing backlash among workers after allowing its cabin crew to wear Black Lives Matter pins on their uniforms while on duty.

The nation’s largest commercial jet carrier announced on Sunday that it would be introducing the new policy across its fleet.

But it has already run into fierce opposition among staff with some saying they are ‘completely disgusted’ at the move and claiming that the BLM movement is divisive, promotes violence and is anti-police.

Reaction to the decision has sparked fierce debate online with some passengers even calling for a boycott of the airline. 

American Airlines is facing backlash among workers after allowing its cabin crew to wear Black Lives Matter pins on their uniforms while on duty (stock image)

In a company-wide statement introducing the new policy American Airlines wrote: ‘Clearly we live in a time where it is so important to have a dialogue about this important issue of racism in our society and try to find common ground.

‘American is truly committed to having an inclusive culture that is welcoming to all and a reflection of our country and world.

‘This is why American is so committed to creating a more tolerant and diverse team.

‘Through our partnership with American’s office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, we are continuing to work through an overall plan for addressing these issues in our workplace.’ 

It went on to say that a uniform pin, which is set to be designed by the company’s Black Professional Network, was being introduced as a symbolic way of showing support.

But the move has sparked backlash with one veteran flight attendant writing to American Airlines to complain in an email obtained by the New York Post.

It read: ‘I take offense to this. Serious offense. My husband is a LEO (Law Enforcement Officer), as was my deceased father and as far as I’m concerned ALL LIVES MATTER.

‘I am completely disgusted at the fact that we can’t show support for our GOD, our COUNTRY, our LEOs but when it comes to BLM organization (which is controversial in itself), American Airlines says that’s obviously different,’ she wrote.

‘And we can. How is that right? Well, I don’t feel included.’ 

A second flight attendant who spoke to Fox News said that if the BLM pins are allowed then they will be wearing a badge to show support for President Trump.  

The backlash of the new policy has also spread among American Airline passengers who are now calling for a boycott of the company.

The backlash of the new policy has also spread among American Airline passengers who are now calling for a boycott of the company

One wrote: ‘Bad move #AmericanAirlines #blm don’t matter #AllLivesMattter support pins for #allcauses. I won’t be flying with you until you change #BoycottAmericanAirlines.’

Another commented: ‘Guess I’ll add #AmericanAirlines to the list of boycotted idiots.’

And a third added: ‘@AmericanAir…will no longer fly on your airlines! BOYCOTT #AmericanAirlines.’  

MailOnline has contacted American Airlines for comment. 

American Airlines recently announced that it would be laying of 19,000 workers due to the coronavirus crisis impacting the the travel industry.  

The Black Lives Matter protests have spread across the country since the death of George Flloyd in Minneapolis on May 25 after a white police officer knelt on his neck for eight minutes.