Advocates and celebrities are rallying behind Sikh actor and designer Waris Ahluwalia after he was stopped from boarding a New York-bound flight Monday because he was wearing a turban.
Ahluwalia was returning to New York fashion week when said he was turned away from the Aeromexico flight because he refused to remove the religious headwear.
"This is unacceptable," tweeted Raj Grewal, a member of the Canadian Parliament.
"I can't believe that happened! Whoever made this decision needs to be fired. What a disgrace," tweeted Matt Sanchez, drummer for the band American Authors.
RELATED: Editorial: How Long Will It Take for People Like Waris Ahluwalia to Travel Without Being Profiled?
"You have every right to wear your religious head covering when traveling," the ACLU pointed out.
On Monday, The Sikh Coalition posted a list of demands on Twitter that included training on how to screen passengers with religious headwear.
On Monday night, Ahluwalia posted an Instagram photo and wrote that he was still in Mexico City.
Related: Sikh Designer, Actor Says He Wasn't Allowed on Flight Because of Turban
"13 hours later. Still in Mexico City. No traveler should be subjected to what I was today. All we're asking for from @aeromexico is an apology and education/training of the staff," he wrote.
In a statement posted Monday, Aeroméxico said the airline "renews its commitment to transport all passengers regardless of their religion, social status or gender. The airline, however, is required to meet the federal safety requirements outlined by the United States' Transportation Security Administration (TSA) for review of selected passengers traveling to the United States. The airline regrets any inconvenience any passenger could perceive due to the application of these procedures."
Related: Waris Ahluwalia on Indian Identity and That Viral Gap Ad
Follow NBC Asian America on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr.
