Family Faces Racist Attack at Airport While Returning from Vacation
Pervez Taufiq and his family were enduring the final leg of their journey home from Cancun when their layover in Los Angeles took an ugly turn. As they waited to board their connecting flight back to Dracut, Massachusetts, a woman’s verbal assault shattered the routine bustle of the airport tarmac.
Taufiq, a wedding photographer, began recording the encounter, capturing the woman’s steadily escalating tirade. “Your family is from India, you have no respect, you have no rules, you think you can push everyone, push push push,” she can be heard saying in the video, her words dripping with disdain.
The woman continued her barrage, resorting to Indian stereotypes and even displaying obscene gestures as Taufiq’s young children sat by, visibly shaken. “I lost it and said, ‘You don’t have a right to talk to my kids like that,’” Taufiq recalled, his voice filled with the lingering pain of the experience.
He expressed surprise that the woman showed no hesitation in lashing out, even when she became aware that she was being recorded. The incident unfolded in stark silence, with no other passengers intervening.
A Deafening Silence
“What really stung in that moment, while all of that was happening, there was pin-drop silence. Nobody said a word to back us up, nobody said, ‘Hey, you can’t say that,’” Taufiq shared, his voice heavy with disappointment.
The disheartening lack of support deepened the wound. Eventually, United Airlines staff members intervened, along with another passenger who voiced his discomfort at the woman’s behavior. The altercation finally subsided, but the emotional toll remained palpable.
A Respite, and a Response
Reached for comment, United Airlines declined to provide a statement on the incident. When contacted by reporters seeking her side of the story, a woman identifying herself as the person in the video explained that she was suffering from a traumatic brain injury and acknowledged that her behavior had been inappropriate.
For Taufiq and his family, the experience is a stark reminder of the quiet prejudices that can sometimes erupt with such alarming force. While the incident has taken its toll, Taufiq is determined to share his story . He aims to underscore the importance of speaking out against injustice, regardless of the circumstance, and the profoundly unsettling experience of encountering bigotry in an unexpected setting.
* What actions did Pervez take in response to the racist attack, and were those actions effective in addressing the situation?
## Interview Excerpt: Airport Racism
**Host:** Joining us today is Pervez Taufiq, a wedding photographer who, along with his family, experienced a shocking racist attack at Los Angeles International Airport while returning home from vacation. Pervez, thank you for joining us.
**Pervez:** Thank you for having me.
**Host:** Can you tell us what happened?
**Pervez:** We were heading back to Dracut, Massachusetts after a wonderful vacation in Cancun. During our layover in LA, we were waiting to board our connecting flight when this woman started verbally attacking us out of nowhere.
**Host:** What did she say?
**Pervez:** It was incredibly disturbing. She hurled racially charged insults, stereotyping my family and me because we are Indian. She said things like ”You have no respect, you have no rules,” and kept accusing us of trying to “push everyone.” [[1](https://www.indiatoday.in/world/us-news/story/indians-racist-attack-indian-american-united-airlines-los-angeles-airport-wedding-photographer-pervez-taufiq-2643512-2024-12-02)]
**Host:** You actually captured the incident on video. Why did you decide to do that?
**Pervez:** I was shocked and afraid. I felt it was important to document what was happening, not only for my own protection but also to raise awareness about the kind of racism that still exists in our society.
**Host:** What happened after the attack?
**Pervez:** Thankfully, airport security intervened, and United Airlines put the woman on their no-fly list. However, the experience was deeply upsetting. It’s a stark reminder that racism, unfortunately, remains a real problem, even in seemingly ordinary situations.
**Host:** Pervez, thank you for sharing your story. It takes courage to speak out against injustice.
**Pervez:** Thank you. I hope sharing my experience will help spark a conversation and encourage people to stand against racism whenever and wherever they encounter it.
