A California U.S. Marine Corps Veteran was reportedly removed from a Delta Airlines flight last week because the pro-veteran t-shirt she was wearing was deemed “threatening.”  Catherine Banks, who served in the military for over two decades, shared her recent experience of being pulled off a flight out of San Francisco International Airport by a flight attendant.

The shirt Banks was wearing was intended to raise awareness for veteran suicide, which read, “Do not give in to the war within. End veteran suicide.”  She told NBC Bay Area, “A male flight attendant was saying, ‘Ma’am, ma’am.’ And I was looking around like, Who’s he talking to? And it was me, and he said, You need to get off the plane. I was like, What did I do? He said, That shirt you’re wearing is threatening.”

Banks attempted to explain that she was a dedicated member of the U.S military, with decades of service.  However, the flight attendant refused to concede.  “I said, ‘Are you kidding me? I’m a Marine Corps vet. I’m going to see my Marine sister. I’ve been in the Marine Corps for 22 years and worked for the Air Force for 15 years. I’m going to visit her.’ He said, ‘I don’t care about your service, and I don’t care about her service. That shirt you’re wearing…the only way you’re going to get back on the plane is if you take it off right now,” she added.

Explaining how the experience was “humiliating,” Banks added, “I feel like they just took my soul away. I’m not a bad person, and that T-shirt. I should be allowed to support myself and veterans.” However, a spokesperson for Delta Airlines claimed the situation has been “resolved.”  They said, “The matter with the customer has been resolved. We appreciate her patience as we continue to work to understand what occurred during this event. Most importantly, we are thankful for her service to our country.”

Users on social media reacted to the incident by blasting the airline for its treatment of banks.  “Here’s how to handle this, @Delta. First, publicly apologize to this woman. Offer her free flights for a year. Second, apologize to Til Valhalla Project. Third, make a hefty donation to one or more veteran suicide prevention charities. Finally, reprimand the employee involved,” one person wrote.

One user weighed in, “As a veteran and @Delta rewards member, they need to address this very publicly. The fact the flight attendant said he “didnt care” is an issue. A shirt addressing a serious issue is not a threat. Delta needs to do right by her. I would also like to see them donate to veteran mental health orgs.”

Another person called out Delta, writing, “Vanguard & BlackRock are the largest shareholders of Delta Airlines and one of their main goals is the DIVISION of our society.I made the decision not to fly on this DEI hire airline months ago. I viewed a commercial, of Delta’s creation, celebrating diversity hires rather than qualified hires. I ceased flying with them, not only because of personal beliefs, but to insure the safety of my family.”

Watch news coverage of the incident below:

Note:  The featured image is a screenshot from the embedded video.