Department Of Homeland Security Targets Black Muslim Activist
On Tuesday, April 8, I was unlawfully detained and interrogated by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at the Tampa airport while returning to the United States from international travel. I was told that “most of your rights are suspended,” because “this airport is a border crossing,” including my right to a lawyer. I was interrogated by a counterterrorism agent and treated like a criminal and a terrorist — synonyms this empire has long made interchangeable with being Black, Muslim and politically active.
For roughly over three hours I was held without access to legal counsel, aggressively questioned, patted down and subjected to an invasive groin search.