Indian-American family to file case against woman who hurled racist slurs in LA

An Indian-American family plans to press charges against the woman who hurled racist slurs at them on an airline shuttle bus, saying their generation is different from that of their parents and they won’t just put their head down and keep quiet. Taufiq, whose work constantly takes him to destinations across the world, recalled that on a United flight over the weekend from New York to his home in Boston, an airline staff member recognised him, stopped him and said, “Is it okay if I give you a hug?” “And gave me the tightest hug ever, and said, ‘we just want you to know that we really stand by you, and we are so sorry that happened.’ To me, that speaks to the humanity in people,” he said. The woman has been identified as Arlene Consuela, Taufiq said, adding that “this is the irony of it all”, given that her name is of Mexican descent. “So, one immigrant is basically telling another immigrant that they are not American.” Taufiq said his eldest son, who is 11, was sitting in the business class next to the woman, who was asking him questions about whether his family was from India. Taufiq said brain injuries may cause speech impediments “but they certainly don't make you racist”.