NJ Man Nearly Removed From United Flight Over Gaza Shirt

A T-shirt message about children and war turned into a boarding standoff on a United Airlines flight, according to a New Jersey passenger who spoke to CBS News. Sam Saadeh of Linden says he was pulled off a June 4 Atlanta-to-Newark flight after a flight attendant objected to his shirt, which read, "Bombing kids is not self defense." Saadeh, who is of Palestinian descent, told the outlet he was given a choice by a supervisor: change the shirt or don't fly. Feeling "upset and humiliated," he says he changed and reboarded but never got a clear explanation.

United, citing its policy allowing it to deny travel to passengers whose clothing is deemed "lewd, obscene, or offensive," said only that Saadeh "flew as scheduled after changing his shirt." Saadeh, who says the slogan is meant to advocate for children caught in conflict, has filed a complaint with the US Department of Transportation and is consulting attorneys. He says he will keep wearing the shirt. Per People, he wears it to draw attention to the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, but he describes the shirt's message as a straightforward statement that bombing children is wrong, no matter who or where they are. Fox News reports the company behind the shirt, Wear the Peace, posted that the sentiment is "a peaceful statement, not a threat."