Comedians Eric André and Clayton English Settle Lawsuit Over Atlanta Airport Police Searches

Eric André and Clayton English resolved their federal suit against Clayton County police by accepting a $30,000 settlement, half to each plaintiff, and securing a county commitment to end the airport search program that they said relied on racial profiling. The settlement further obligates officers at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport to use body-worn cameras and undergo training on the constitutional boundaries of airport encounters.

Court filings revealed that from late August 2020 through April 2021, police conducted 402 jet-bridge stops, recording the race of 378 passengers; 56% of those were Black and people of color accounted for 68% of all stops. The stops produced three reported drug seizures and more than $1 million in cash and money orders from 25 travelers, yet only two individuals faced charges. Most of the seized money was later returned after challenges. County officials have not commented on the settlement.